Joseph Oughourlian poised to step away from Padoue, sale could follow | OneFootball

RC Lens owner Joseph Oughourlian is on the verge of stepping away from Padoue in Serie B.

According to L'Équipe, a sale could be finalised in the coming weeks, and he holds a majority stake via his Luxembourg holding J4A Holdings II SARL.

He first arrived as a minority shareholder in late 2017. He took control in spring 2019, at a time when the club was close to bankruptcy and had just dropped into Serie C. Investment since then delivered a slow rebuild, capped by promotion to Serie B at the end of last season.

Padoue remains loss-making, and Oughourlian has struggled to progress as he wished. Dialogue with local authorities has proved difficult, particularly around stadium-related investment.

A supporters’ strike late last season, and limited fervour behind the team, are also thought to have pushed him towards stepping aside.

Italian businessman Marcelo Figoli could become the club’s new owner. Oughourlian remains the majority shareholder at Lens and Millonarios in Colombia, and also holds 5% of Real Saragosse in Spain’s second division.

Source: L'Équipe