Lotito group completes Reggina takeover
Claudio Lotito’s group has acquired Serie D club Reggina 1914, creating a new multi-club structure that remains permitted only while the Calabrian side stay outside Italy’s professional divisions.
A company linked to Lazio president Claudio Lotito’s business group has completed the acquisition of Reggina 1914, giving the Italian executive control of a second football club for the first time since his departure from Salernitana.The Serie D club were sold by the ownership group led by Nino Ballarino following negotiations completed in Rome. Financial terms were not disclosed, although reports in Italy have valued the transaction at about €1.6m.Reggina said: “This afternoon in Rome, the sale of Reggina to a company linked to the group of President Claudio Lotito was completed.“The transaction was driven by the desire to ensure continuity and new growth prospects for the Amaranto club, while respecting Reggina’s history and the sporting passion of the people of Reggio Calabria.”The new owners are expected to target an immediate return to Serie C, restoring Reggina to the professional game after several years of financial and institutional disruption.The club were excluded from Serie B in 2023 after failing to meet financial admission requirements and subsequently restarted in Serie D under the Fenice Amaranto identity.They later recovered the Reggina 1914 name and brand, but have remained outside the professional divisions while attempting to rebuild their sporting and commercial structure.Lotito brings experience of operating clubs at different levels of Italian football. He acquired Lazio in 2004 and previously controlled Salernitana, overseeing their rise from the lower divisions to Serie A.His ownership of Lazio and Reggina is currently permitted because Serie D is classified as an amateur competition.FIGC rules prohibit the same person or connected ownership group from controlling more than one professional club, irrespective of whether the teams compete in different divisions.Promotion to Serie C would therefore create a mandatory divestment process. Lotito’s group would need to sell Reggina or end its control of Lazio within the period established by the federation.That regulatory issue places a natural limit on the ownership strategy. Sporting success would increase Reggina’s value and restore professional status, but it would also force an ownership decision.The transaction has attracted criticism from sections of Lazio’s support, who have questioned the timing of investment in another club amid tensions over recruitment and the management of the Serie A side.Reggina supporters are likely to judge the deal more immediately on whether the new ownership can establish a stable budget, appoint an experienced sporting structure and build a squad capable of winning promotion.The club’s commercial potential remains significant for Serie D, supported by a recognised identity, a substantial local following and the Stadio Oreste Granillo.A return to the professional leagues could improve sponsorship, ticketing and central revenue, although the ownership restrictions mean Lotito’s group cannot present the acquisition as an indefinite multi-club project.The new era will begin with decisions over the head coach, sporting management and pre-season training programme as Reggina prepare for another promotion campaign.