Fire Owner & Chair Joe Mansueto has "purchased Swiss Super League club FC Lugano," giving the MLS side a European partner club. Mansueto said, "When permitted, players can move between clubs -- from Chicago to Lugano and vice versa." Fire Sporting Dir Georg Heitz and coach Raphael Wicky, who are "both of Swiss descent, previously worked together at Swiss Super League powerhouse FC Basel 1893." The Fire join the likes of NYCFC (City Football Group), the Red Bulls (Red Bull), CF Montréal (Bologna), Atlanta United (Aberdeen), FC Dallas (Bayern Munich), FC Cincinnati (Hoffenheim) and the Rapids (Arsenal) as MLS clubs that "have working relationships with European sides" (MLSSOCCER.com, 8/18). Mansueto said he wants to "invest in the club" but when asked about the budget said, "I don't have a precise idea at the moment" (CORRIERE DEL TICINO, 8/18).
Prior to the purchase becoming official, one report suggested that had "been some complications." FC Lugano had two shareholders -- Chair Angelo Renzetti who owned 60% of the club and Leonid Novoselskiy, who owned the rest reportedly could "reject any takeover deal within 30 days of a proposed offer. Novoselskiy at one point said that an offer Mansueto made to purchase 100% of the club was “not acceptable”. This, even as the club faced "potential bankruptcy, according to Renzetti" (ON TAP SPORTS NET, 8/8).
