Italian FA president welcomes Chinese investment

Italian Football Federation President Carlo Tavecchio arrives before the Italy's national soccer team official photo at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, June 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

(Reuters) - Italian FA president Carlo Tavecchio has welcomed the flow of Chinese funds into football in his country, saying the game needs resources and investment.

Chinese investors have poured money into the sport in Europe with several eye-catching deals designed to raise soccer's profile in the Asian country and inspired by President Xi Jinping's desire to turn China into a footballing powerhouse.