Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca has given his response to the potential takeovers at Manchester United and Liverpool after being asked whether is interested in investing in either of the Premier League giants.
The American private equity investor was interested in buying Chelsea last year when the club was up for sale before it was eventually sold to the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-led investment group. Earlier in 2022, Pagliuca became the co-chair of the Italian side Atalanta after fronting a consortium that acquired a controlling stake in the club.
The billionaire, who has headed up operations at investment fund Bain Capital for the last 30 years, became a co-owner of the NBA's Celtics in 2003, winning a Championship five years later and reaching the finals in 2010 and 2022 only to lose to Golden State Warriors. The 68-year-old's previous interest in purchasing Chelsea means questions will be asked whether he has an interest in United or Liverpool.
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Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Pagliuca was asked whether there he had any interest in either Premier League club. Pagliuca said: “I looked at Liverpool about 15 years ago when they had that situation (before their current owners, Fenway Sports Group, took over). I can’t talk specifically about any transactions we are working on because of confidentiality agreements, but obviously, we are aware of those transactions.
“The questions on those transactions, in general, is what price level do we think is sustainable? Obviously the Chelsea process, which received a record price, has probably motivated folks to try and monetise clubs that they have owned for a long time, and we are certainly in a period where values have been driven up.
“Anyone who buys a club has to assess the economic opportunity, how much money we have to put in to keep up the quality and what that will cost you. That is what we do in everything we are looking at.”
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