FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - August 6, 2022 Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Craig Brough
MILAN (Reuters) - Troubled Italian soccer club U.C. Sampdoria said its shareholders have approved a restructuring plan, a move which paves the way for a takeover by Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani and his partner Matteo Manfredi.
Sampdoria, which has just been relegated from Serie A for the first time in over a decade, said the deal entails a cash injection of up 40 million euros ($44 million) to shore up the Genoa-based club's finances.
Hard-hit by the pandemic, Sampdoria have been for sale for over a year as part of a process aimed at repaying creditors of the club's former chairman and owner, who has been involved in a case of alleged bankruptcy.
A trustee has been looking after the sale process, with Lazard acting as advisor.
Radrizzani and Manfredi's proposal won out over a rival bid by Lille's owner Alessandro Barnaba, the club previously said.
Sampdoria enjoyed their heyday in the early 1990s when the Genoa-based club secured their sole national title with a team led by outstanding strike partnership Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini.
Leeds United also suffered relegation from England's Premier League last weekend.
($1 = 0.9084 euros)
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Editing by Keith Weir)
