ROME: Italy’s premier football league is to open an office in Abu Dhabi after striking a deal with a UAE media firm for exclusive broadcast rights, according to a report.
The Serie A, which counts European giants Juventus, Inter and Milan among its clubs, will establish a presence in the region to capitalize on a strategic market, according to the Italian financial newspaper Milano Finanza.
Abu Dhabi Media last month secured exclusive rights to broadcast Serie A games for three years in the Middle East and North Africa.
Milano Finanza said establishing a base in Abu Dhabi “would be an ideal spot ... for developing commercial and investment relations with the other countries in the Gulf region.”
While the move has yet to be confirmed by the league, sources quoted by the newspaper said the announcement is expected to be made by its CEO Luigi De Siervo at a meeting of European football leagues in Dubai on Oct. 20.
ADM also has rights to games from Italy’s leading knockout tournament, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa match between the champions of Serie A and the Coppa Italia, which has in recent years been played in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
