President of Sampdoria resigns after being arrested for tax fraud

Massimo Ferrero, 70 years old, owner of Sampdoria since 2014, decided to resign "to better protect the interests of other activities in which he works and, in particular, to isolate all kinds of speculation about a possible connection" with the club, says the Genoese emblem on statement.

The businessman, detained in Milan, expressed his desire to be "at the immediate and complete disposal" of investigators.

"We were very surprised to learn of the precautionary measure of detention against Massimo Ferrero, ordered by the Public Ministry of the Republic of Paola [Calabria, south] for questions related to events that took place many years ago", reads the statement from Sampdoria.

Portuguese Adrien Silva's club stresses that the issues that led to the businessman's arrest "are not linked to Sampdoria's management and presidency, but to Ferrero's Roman activities related to the world of cinema."