VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Ħamrun Spartans president Joseph Portelli has revealed plans to acquire an Italian Serie C club, with the aim of securing promotion to Serie A and channeling profits back into the Maltese champions.
The announcement came during a celebratory event marking Ħamrun’s historic qualification to the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League, after defeating Latvian side FC RFS 3-2 on aggregate. A record 1,577 fans attended the dinner, where Portelli unveiled his ambitious project.
“This is an ambitious goal, but I firmly believe I can achieve it,” Portelli said. “All profits from the Italian club will be reinvested in Ħamrun Spartans, as my dream is to see us compete in the League Phase of a UEFA competition every summer.”
Portelli outlined his main challenge: increasing the Italian club’s value and attracting top talent. He also noted the potential advantage of moving players between the two clubs to strengthen Ħamrun ahead of European campaigns.
Should football regulations force him to step down as Spartans president, Portelli said his son Triston is ready to take over, though he stressed he has no plans of leaving.
Portelli’s long-term target is to guide Ħamrun into the knockout stages of the Conference League within five years, cementing their place among Europe’s rising clubs.
The takeover bid also fulfills a personal ambition for Portelli, who first expressed interest in investing in Italian football four years ago. Now, with Ħamrun’s European breakthrough, he sees the timing as perfect to push both clubs toward greater heights.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
