Basketball in Rome: Massimo Zanetti’s Harsh Words Heat Up the Situation Even More

Statements by Massimo Zanetti, owner of Virtus Bologna, regarding the creation of two new clubs in Rome from scratch (BC SPQR and Maxima) following the latter’s acquisition of the sports franchises of Vanoli Cremona and Germani Brescia have added a new level of tension to a situation that is shaking up Italian basketball. Speaking via video call during an event held in Vidiciatico, Zanetti made no secret of his critical stance toward what is happening, also calling out FIP President Petrucci.

“My idea of sports is simple: a team belongs to its fans and its city,” said the owner of Virtus. “You can’t move it elsewhere just because someone comes along with more money. And that money, in this case, is coming from overseas with the goal of forcing its way into our league and then trying to break into the EuroLeague, where, as of now, the only Italian members are Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna.”

“The NBA can’t create a parallel league here: we’ve all signed with the EuroLeague; the situation is clear,” he added. “That’s why the operation being set up in Italy—and specifically in Rome—continues to seem incomprehensible to me. I also told President Petrucci this: I don’t understand the logic behind a project that risks distorting the system and bypassing the communities that support Italian basketball.”

Speaking to *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, Gianni Petrucci had defended the legality of the operations that led to the creation of the two new clubs in the capital: “Current laws allow it; there is freedom of investment. Those who put up the money have every right to seek investors. The FIP president then addressed the most sensitive issue: the possible collapse of one of the two projects if it fails to obtain approval from NBA Europe: “I’ve discussed this with both clubs; they said they accept the risk.”