Romanian Side Steaua Bucharest Owner Looking To Purchase New Club In Top Tier

Gigi Becali, the "controversial owner" of Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest, is "reportedly planning to leave the troubled side and purchase a new club competing in the country's top tier Liga 1," according to Jaroslaw Adamowski of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The Romanian businessman, who was released from jail earlier this year after "serving about 14 months for multiple crimes, unveiled plans to cut his financial support to Steaua" and sell the club following the side's "weak performance in the European cups this season." Becali's potential acquisitions include three local sides: Astra Giurgiu, FC Voluntari and Petrolul Ploesti. The latter has €6M ($6.8M) in debts, and to cover it, according to information obtained by broadcaster Digi Sport, Becali aims to obtain €3M ($3.4M) from the Romanian municipality, and a further €3M from TV broadcasting rights (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/10).