Oficial: Un grupo estadounidense llega para 'salvar' al Reus

Un grupo empresarial estadounidense, Real State Investment, encabezado por Russel Platt y Clifton Onolfo, se ha convertidoen el nuevo propietario del Reus Deportivo, con lo que salvaría la difícil situación económica por la que atraviesa el equipo rojinegro, que ya no pudo jugar su partido el pasado sábado ante la Unión Deportiva Las Palmas.

Según publica Diari de Tarragona -y ha confirmado el club con un comunicado en su web-, el citado conglomerado estadounidense ya habría cerrado la operación esta pasada madrugada con Joan Oliver, máximo accionista de la entidad reusense. El acuerdo, según esta versión, supone el pago de la deuda acumulada por el Reus, cifrada en unos cinco millones de euros, y el mismo tiene que ser avalado por LaLiga, después del expediente informativo abierto y que, de momento, ha supuesto la suspensión de los partidos ante Las Palmas y Albacete.

Real State Investment, con experiencia en la construcción de hoteles, viviendas y centros comerciales, tiene su sede en Miami Beach. Según la misma información, el citado grupo estaría interesado en un proyecto de reforma del Estadi, que incluiría la construcción de un centro comercial cercano a la instalación.

Así reza el comunicado, en inglés, publicado por el Reus:

"US Real Estate Investment Bankers Russel C. Platt and Clifton V. Onolfo buy and stabilize CF Reus Deportiu SAD and build LaLiga 123 sized 18.000 seat Gaudian Stadium Complex and Entertainment Mall with City of Reus and Catalonia.

While Club De Futbol Reus Deportiu has been the over achieving small club consolidating itself in La Liga 123 over the last three years, the climb was just too high for departing ownership. We thank Mr Joan Oliver for cooperation in helping transition the Club to a new owner's group and mostly for his lifting of the club from 2B to 2A and dreaming with all of CF Reus and its fans.

After the Barcelona match last evening, CF Reus Deportiu has sold 99.7% of its shares to Russell Platt, a founder of Morgan Stanley Real Estate and Chairman of Forum Partners and Greppon Advisor, and Clifton Onolfo, former Owner of Connecticut Wolves SC of USL Div 2 and Global Cities Co-Investment Real Estate Capital Markets Fortune.

‘A time for stabilization’ of CF Reus and building the Stadium Complex Gaudian Style with 18.000 seats to accommodate a steady Club in LaLiga 123 and potentially beyond.

We must get the Club immediately into compliance for the LaLiga, players and employees to show respect to the game. We must talk with all the Club’s suppliers and vendors to put a new ownership and management team and purchase order processes with singular Board Budgeted approval process. Player trading must become a money maker from such a special and large 250 CF Reus youth players academy. 

Mr. Platt is a co-founder, Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Forum Partners and is based in London. He has over 30 years experience in real estate finance and investment in Europe and North America including a period as Managing Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Platt founded and managed the global real estate department of Morgan Stanley Asset Management and was Director of the company's real estate fund. Before founding Forum Partners, he was Managing Director of Security Capital Research & Management and President of JER Partners. Mr. Platt has a BA in economics from Williams College, Massachusetts, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Clifton V. Onolfo is Vice Chairman, CEO and Treasurer of Global Cities Capital. Presently, Mr. Onolfo is advising four Multi Billion Financial Advisers and several CEOs on refinancing, capital funding or selling their respective businesses. Projects include two in Hospitality Funds, the third Fund Manager where Mr. Onolfo is recapitalizing a Multi- Billion international Real Estate Advisor, and the fourth is establishing a global fundraising strategy and network for a Global Re Fund. Mr. Onolfo recently completed a fund project with Starwood Capital, who sponsored a €300 million Hotel Fund with a cornerstone investment in a new Hotel Flag and 30 Hotels. Clifton is consulting for a UK/EU Fund, a JV between a US $2 Billion and EU $30 Billion Financial Advisers to build New Re-Liquid Alternative Financial Product.

This is also a family affair: while Clifton Onolfo was once a prominent player at youth and early professional years and USL 2 owner, the Onolfo family in the United States has been synonymous with the growth and success of futbol (soccer) in America for 40 years. The family is from Connecticut with fields dedicated to their legacy for development of youth players by the Father Vincent James Onalfo of NYPD Technology CIO Hall of Fame, to Curt Onolfo, most recently Head Coach and Manager of Los Angeles Galaxy, DC United and KC Wizards, Barcelona 92 Olympian, and US National Team Assistant, U-20 Present US National Assistant Coach And former MLS Champion as Player and Coach. To Clifton’s Nephew Christian Onolfo 21 years old playing in 2nd División LA Galaxy and now Mexico Liga Mex for the past four years. The Onolfo’s have great affection to Spanish World Cup Winning technical creative and imaginative Futbol style, better known as Tiki-Taka with a touch of Brazilian flair and team fitness/focus as Curtis was born in Sao Paolo Brazil the day Pelé scored his 1000th goal and blessed a Futbol player and family for life."