Recent research has highlighted the alarming financial state of Serie A and Italian soccer in general.



Even with foreign investors pouring millions into teams like AC Milan and Roma in recent years, Italian clubs have experienced their greatest total financial loss in fifteen years.



<h5>AC Milan the model club</h5>



Under Elliott Management and now RedBird Capital, the Rossoneri have been a model club, paying off their debts and cutting costs to the point that they will declare a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/pulisics-impact-felt-at-ac-milan-despite-not-making-debut-yet-20230719-WST-444198.html">profit this fiscal year</a>.



Nonetheless, it seems that is not enough to ensure the long-term financial health of the whole Italian league. 



PricewaterhouseCoopers, via <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-04/italy-football-clubs-post-1-4-billion-loss-despite-buyer-spree" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a>, have found that professional sports teams in Italy lost $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in June 2022.



<h5>Covid pandemic effect devastating for Serie A</h5>



U.S. investment groups, including RedBird, 777 Partners, and Oaktree are flocking to Italy’s top soccer league. As a result, clubs in European tournaments have improved their play, but they have also seen a decline in ticket sales and television earnings, leaving them financially unstable.



The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the 2020-21 season, resulting in losses of $1.4 billion. PwC found that in 2021-22, total indebtedness exceeded $6.1 billion, an increase of more than 4% from the previous year.



<h5>TV rights income lags behind </h5>



Broadcasting rights income for Italy’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a>, Serie B, and Serie C divisions decreased from $1.5 billion in 2018-2019 to $1.4 billion in 2021-2022. The decline in sponsorship income over the last four years has been 3%. The drop in Serie A, Italy’s top division, was the most severe.



More than 80% of its contracts are with Italian sponsors, underscoring its strong dependence on the domestic market. In contrast, only 53% of contracts in England, which boasts Europe’s most affluent league, are domestic, even with emerging competition from Saudi interests.



PwC also found that, behind England and Spain, Italy’s league teams had the third-highest level of interaction among their fans across the most prominent social media platforms. 



However, France and Germany, who now rank fourth and fifth in terms of followers, are rapidly closing the gap with Italy.



Photo credit: IMAGO / Insidefoto

There has been a troubling study detailing the catastrophic financial state of the Italian top division, Serie A and Italian soccer.

Bad news for Italy and Serie A: Worst financial loss in 15 years - World Soccer Talk

Bad news for Italy and Serie A: Worst financial loss in 15 years

After a remarkable 28-year career, Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement from Parma and the beautiful game.



In the past, the 45-year-old said he plans to stay playing until the 2026 World Cup. Also, Buffon added that he aims to finish out his contract with Parma. That deal expires in June 2024.



However, the experienced goalie now sees a path toward an earlier retirement. Recent seasons, and aging, led to a series of injuries. Moreover, the team’s inability to make it to Serie A last season may have influenced his decision. 



Parma concluded the year with 60 points, good enough for fourth place in Serie B. Throughout the campaign, Buffon battled a variety of muscle problems. For example, a hamstring injury sidelined the legend for three months.



<h2>What next for Buffon following retirement?</h2>



<a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1686732539963006976" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fabrizio Romano</a> says an official announcement on the retirement of Buffon is imminent. Within the following several days, a representative for Buffon will meet with the club to amicably dissolve the player’s contract.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">That&apos;s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We&nbsp;did&nbsp;it&nbsp;together. <a href="https://t.co/bGvIDsoFsG">pic.twitter.com/bGvIDsoFsG</a>— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) <a href="https://twitter.com/gianluigibuffon/status/1686727431887933440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Next, he’ll likely be given the position of Chief of Delegation for the Italian national team. Formerly, Gianluca Vialli held that position.



As a last major contract before retiring, the Italian allegedly rejected a rich chance to join the Saudi Pro League. He would have joined the ranks of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/list-of-footballers-signed-by-saudi-arabia-this-summer-20230728-WST-446173.html">other superstar players</a> like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema by moving to Saudi Arabia.



<h5>How many titles has he won in his career?</h5>



Buffon spent 19 of his 28 professional seasons at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a>, where he became a household name and won a host of Serie A titles. His career in Turin spanned from 2001 to 2018, after which he transferred to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> of France’s Ligue 1. After just one year in Paris, he left for his former side for 2019-21 and then Parma for the rest of his career.



The famous goalie had an impressive trophy haul, including 10 Serie A championships and a Ligue 1 championship. In 2006, he was a key member of Italy’s World Cup-winning squad with Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Cannavaro.



PHOTO: IMAGO / Independent Photo Agency

The legendary Italian goalie is terminating his contract in June 2024 and retiring from soccer after a staggering 28-year career.

Italian soccer's legendary goalkeeper to call it quits at 45

Fans of Italian soccer, if you don’t know about Helbiz Live, you’re missing out.



In the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/how-to-stream-soccer/">soccer streaming wars</a>, established players dominate the scene. Depending on your preferences, many of us subscribe to a combination of <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN+</a>, <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/330866/1313913/11640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peacock</a> and <a href="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/330866/1007330/3065" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paramount+</a>, among others. Yet, there is a universe of league-based streaming services that are more niche. For example, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/efl-ifollow-faq-need-know-football-leagues-new-streaming-service-20170509-CMS-211918.html">iFollow</a> exists specifically for fans of lower-league English soccer.



But when it comes to Italian soccer, a name that many of us may be unfamiliar with is <a href="https://helbizlive.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helbiz Live</a>.



Helbiz is an Italian company established in New York in 2015. Readers who live in large cities may have seen their scooters or bikes parked next to sidewalks among the other scooter rental companies. The brand has expanded its footprint. Rather than street bikes and scooters, Helbiz went after a niche audience spending money on loyalty. In this case, it was Italian soccer fans. The service began to offer <a href="https://soccertvblog.com/serie-b-coming-to-u-s-on-fox-networks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Serie B</a> (second division) streaming this season for a monthly or yearly subscription price. The CBS deal with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-serie-a-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Serie A</a> does not cover the lower tiers.



<h5>Lower divisions in Italy</h5>



Serie B is a valuable investment. I have long been a defender of Italian soccer. Even then, Serie B can sometimes channel the worst stereotypes. Diving and hand gestures are rampant. Like other second divisions, it is overly physical. However, the level of talent in the league is top-notch, leading to a higher quality of play than you may expect from Serie B.



Then, there are the clubs competing. Start with a club like Venezia. One of America’s favorite soccer clubs had a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/14/relegated-venezia-frustate-romas-european-ambitions/">nice run in Serie A</a>. Now, it is battling to survive in the second division. Whether it’s the beautiful waterside stadium, fashionable kits or extreme American influence, Venezia matches are not to miss.



The club is struggling this season. As of early February, Venezia is just a few points above the relegation zone. If they fall out of Serie B this season, you won’t be able to legally stream their matches. Therefore, you will want to watch them this season, just in case.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Frosinone1928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Frosinone1928</a> is still on 🔝 in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SerieBKT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SerieBKT</a> 🚀 Three teams in third place🔥 What a fantastic fight in the middle of the ranking🏟️ Second success in a row for <a href="https://twitter.com/VeneziaFC_IT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VeneziaFC_IT</a>⚽<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HelbizLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HelbizLive</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ranking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ranking</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/match?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#match</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/championship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#championship</a> <a href="https://t.co/QOXHBm40zE">pic.twitter.com/QOXHBm40zE</a>— Helbiz Live (@HelbizLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/HelbizLive/status/1625076104846344192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Serie B also has a number of familiar clubs. Genoa, Bari, Cagliari, Parma and SPAL among others. The last two have an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/serie-bs-ascoli-fc-adds-to-trend-of-americans-investing-in-global-game-20210920-CMS-345509.html">American influence</a>. There are also a number of interesting managers roaming the sidelines. That includes the recently returned Claudio Ranieri at Cagliari, Daniele de Rossi at SPAL and Filippo Inzaghi at Regina. The table is tight throughout and there are a number of recognizable players.



<h2>Subscribing to Helbiz Live for Serie B</h2>



Now that I convinced you the league is worth your attention, what about the streaming service? Right now, the monthly subscription cost is about $6 per month. Granted this is a little high for receiving one league, even if it is not as high as <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLS Season Pass</a>. However, you do have access to every match, including replays. 



The stream is from the league but the quality is top-notch. I have watched matches on a computer, phone, tablet and streamed to a TV. Each time, the picture and audio was clear. If you miss a live match, the replay is available without a score spoiler. There are also add-ons like weekend round-ups, interviews, and match summaries. You can identify a favorite team and easily access their schedule and matches. Also, some subscription options come with credits for Helbiz rentals.



There are some key downsides. Helbiz as a company has gone through some growing pains. Consequently, it is not as established a sports provider as ESPN. There are essentially four commercials that run throughout the matches, so you may get tired of beautiful people riding scooters or kids in awe over former Serie B players. There is not a league table built into the app. So, you may need to look elsewhere to see what position each club enters the match. Also, the content is in Italian, and you need to make sure you’re subscribing via the English site which may not be the first one that comes up upon search. If you don’t speak the language or need to hear what’s going on, you may have a tough time following the matches.



I purchased a full-season subscription in September to watch my favorite club, and I have not regretted it. The streaming service is good and presents the league well, with both passion in the stands and quality on the pitch. However, I hope to not have to purchase it again next season as my favorite club hopefully continues to fight for promotion. 



At least I know <a href="https://helbizlive.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helbiz Live</a> will allow me to legally enjoy the atmosphere and experience if they stay in Serie B.



PHOTO: IMAGO / LaPresse

Helbiz Live caters to a niche audience that follows Serie B. It is well worth it considering the drama of the Italian second division.

Why Italian soccer fans should consider Helbiz Live

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Como (Italy) (AFP) – Thierry Henry was revealed on Monday as a new shareholder of ambitious Italian club Como, who are aiming for big things after rising from amateur football to the country’s second tier.
France icon Henry was presented by the Serie B club at a media conference in the lakeside city, alongside CEO and former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise.
“It’s a new chapter in my life,” Henry told reporters.
“I know the love for football here… People come to visit for the town. People in France or Spain, they talk about the lake or the beauty of the town but now it’s time to talk about the club.”
Como, owned by Indonesian tobacco giants Djarum, are targeting a return to Serie A for the first time since 2003 after rising from bankruptcy and fourth-tier Serie D in 2017 to Serie B, where they finished 13th last season.
Wise said that Serie A was Como’s “long-term goal”. The former England international added that the club was also working to rebuild the youth academy in order to “compete with AC Milan and Atalanta” in developing young talent and trying to get a new stadium built.
Earlier this month Como signed Henry’s former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fabregas, who joined after a difficult season at Ligue 1 team Monaco for whom he did not play a game after September.
And on Monday they announced the signing of attacker Patrick Cutrone from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Fabregas also became a shareholder at the club as part of his deal to join Como, whose Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium — owned by the city — has the stunning backdrop of one of the world’s most famous lakes.
He is expected to make his first start for Como on Monday night in a Lombardy derby with Brescia.
“The most important thing about Cesc is his brain,” said Henry.
“I think we sometimes forget to develop their (player’s) brain. When you’re fast there, you’ve won, and that’s why he’s lasted.”
– ‘Ambassador’ –
Wise refused to reveal any specifics regarding Henry’s role at the club, nor how much Henry had invested in order to become a shareholder. His stake in the club was “private”, according to Wise.
“Thierry is a shareholder and that’s all I’m prepared to say,” said Wise.
Asked what his official title or responsibilities were, Wise said: “We want to understand his experiences and his ideas”.
“He’s welcome to come in any time and talk, we will listen. You can call him an ambassador… We’ll talk in depth about football,” Wise added.
Henry said that he “will come as much as I can” to Como as part of his role, depending on his other commitments as a pundit and assistant manager with the Belgium national team.
Henry won a host of trophies during a stellar career at Arsenal and Barcelona and was part of the France side alongside the likes of Zinedine Zidane which won the 1998 World Cup.
He retired as a player in 2015 and then coached Monaco and Montreal before becoming a television pundit.

Henry begins ‘new chapter’ as shareholder of ambitious Como

Henry begins 'new chapter' as shareholder of ambitious Como - World Soccer Talk

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Rome (AFP) – Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who won the World Cup in 2010, has signed for Como and was unveiled by the Italian Serie B club on Monday.
“I want to bring Como back to where the club deserves to be, in Serie A,” Fabregas told a press conference.
“I wasn’t chasing money. I was looking for a project that I was enthusiastic about,” he added, stressing that he was committing himself to the “long term” beyond his two-year contract and was thinking of becoming a shareholder in the club, which is run by former Chelsea and England midfielder Dennis Wise.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fabregas, who previously played for Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, had a frustrating season last year, not playing for Monaco’s first team after September.&nbsp;
“On an individual level, it’s ending badly, that’s for sure. Every professional wants to play and feel important,” the Spaniard told AFP in May, claiming to have experienced the “worst” season of his long career.&nbsp;
“I still want to play. I don’t want to end like this. The year has been too bad to end like this. I want to have fun, end with good feelings,” he added, saying he wanted to join a club where he “will play, where people believe in me”.&nbsp;
The club, which was founded in 1907, finished 13th in Serie B last season. Como begin their season on Saturday away to Serie A side Spezia in the Italian Cup.
Fabregas said he did not know if he would be fit to play on Saturday, but “if not, there will be another chance”.

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Italian Serie B side Como

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Italian Serie B side Como - World Soccer Talk

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Rome (AFP) – Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who won the World Cup in 2010, will play for Como in the Italian second division next season, Serie B announced on its official website on Monday.&nbsp;
The deal which takes the 35-year-old from Ligue 1 side Monaco, where he was out of contract, has yet to be announced by the club but his name appears in Serie B’s&nbsp;section listing new certified contracts.
Fabregas, who previously played for Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, had a frustrating season last year, not playing for Monaco’s first team after September.&nbsp;
“On an individual level, it’s ending badly, that’s for sure. Every professional wants to play and feel important,” the Spaniard told AFP in May, claiming to have experienced the “worst” season of his long career.&nbsp;
“I still want to play. I don’t want to end like this. The year has been too bad to end like this. I want to have fun, end with good feelings,” he added, saying he wanted to join a club where he “will play, where people believe in me”.&nbsp;
According to the Italian press, Como, which is run by former Chelsea and England midfielder Dennis Wise, has offered Fabregas a two-year contract.&nbsp;
The club, which was founded in 1907, finished 13th in Serie B last season. Como begin their season on Saturday away to Serie A side Spezia in the Italian Cup.

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Serie B side Como

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Serie B side Como - World Soccer Talk

Latest news from Serie B. Find out about all the news related to Serie B on worldsoccertalk.com

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Bad news for Italy and Serie A: Worst financial loss in 15 years

Gianluigi Buffon

Italian soccer's legendary goalkeeper to call it quits at 45

Italy

Why Italian soccer fans should consider Helbiz Live

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Henry begins ‘new chapter’ as shareholder of ambitious Como

News

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Italian Serie B side Como

News

World Cup winner Fabregas joins Serie B side Como