Lazio towards Nasdaq, plan to land on the US list

Dry, ritual sounding, marking the end of trading. But this time, in the Nasdaq room, the bell doesn't just close a day's trading: it tells of an ambition. Ringing it is Enrico Lotito, general manager of the youth sector of S.S. Lazio. A symbolic gesture. But also a positioning statement.

Participation in the 'closing bell' ceremony had been publicly anticipated a few hours earlier by Lazio president Claudio Lotito during the club's Christmas dinner: 'We have international appeal overseas and tomorrow you will see someone from my family ringing the bell at Nasdaq. It will be the second time in the history of a football club'. A passage accompanied by a clear clarification: 'Our club is not for sale and is not scalable,' and an equally decisive denial: 'All the rumours that describe a club in financial difficulty are false, tendentious and artfully circulated by those who understand nothing about budgets and do not want the good of our team.

The next day, New York. Lazio presents itself as listed, but also as a brand seeking recognition and interlocution. On stage, together with lawyer Enrico Lotito, Emanuele Floridi, spokesman and head of Communication Strategy and Organisation. Doing the honours was Jordan Saxe, manager in charge of the most prestigious listings. The work of the advisors: Deloitte Legal and the international firm Rosestand. Enrico Lotito's official speech clarifies the objective: "For S.S. Lazio, this moment goes far beyond the symbolic value. It represents the beginning of a concrete dialogue between sport, finance and innovation, based on shared values, a sense of responsibility and a long-term vision"

The club, listed on Euronext in Milan, with a share value that yesterday touched 1.14 euro, up 3.17% for a market capitalisation of just over 77 million, seems to be looking at the experience of Cadiz, a Spanish Serie B club that became the first professional team to be listed on Nasdaq. For Lazio, the listing on Wall Street, according to initial evaluations, according to Sole 24 Ore, could be an alternative to the one on the Milanese list.

All this while the eyes for the future are on the redevelopment of the Stadio Flaminio, while in the short term the key issue is the January market freeze, contested by the club: 'We are very confident that in January we will be able to trade without problems,' is the assessment given by president Lotito. Preceding the Wall Street ceremony by a few hours, closed with an identity signing by the youth sector general manager: 'We look forward to this journey that begins today.