By Michael Lynch
Melbourne Victory major shareholders Anthony Di Pietro, the club chairman, and Mario Biasin, have thrown a €100,000 lifeline to struggling Italian club Triestina.
But, says Di Pietro, the deal has nothing to do with Victory.
Victory’s Anthony Di Pietro.
It is simply an initiative, proposed by Biaisin — the founder of construction and property company Metricon Homes — to help a struggling team in an area of Italy where Biasin has family roots.
Biasin's cousin, former Inter Milan and Napoli player Mauro Milanese, is also involved with Triestina, Di Pietro explained. The club plays in the fourth tier of Italian football.
"Mauro is the technical director. The money is to keep the club running as a going concern until the end of the season and then it will be auctioned off."
The process, says Di Pietro, is like a company going into receivership and continuing to trade until a buyer can found.
"Mario felt he would like to give back to Trieste and he invited me to be a part of it. But it is not related to Melbourne Victory."