Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Bologna target partnership with Montreal Impact - Roberto Donadoni

Serie A side Bologna are looking to forge a partnership with MLS club Montreal Impact, their coach Roberto Donadoni has said.

Both clubs are owned by Canadian businessman Joey Saputo, who is keen to establish strong ties between the Major League Soccer franchise and the Italian club, which would see players free to move from one side of the Atlantic to the other.

Donadoni said such a partnership would be mutually beneficial and lamented the lack of opportunities being afforded to talented young players in the Italian game.

"There are clubs who want to do this kind of thing," he told Sportitalia.

"Bologna are one of them, and our president is the owner of a club in Montreal and is looking for a merger between the clubs which would make the most of the capacities of the two cities.

"I think we need to go back in time a bit in terms of this. If we want players who have a bright future, we need to structure our youth systems in a certain way. This takes away time, space and energy and we can see the results."

Former AC Milan, Parma, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Napoli and Verona midfielder Marco Donadel and ex-Lecce forward Ignacio Piatti are two former Serie A players who currently play for Montreal -- and that figure could increase should a partnership be struck.

Montreal have clinched a playoff berth from the Eastern Conference.

^ Back to Top ^