Andrea Agnelli, one of the architects of the controversial European Super League, is returning with a fund to invest in the sports industry.
Five years after failing to reshape football in Europe, Agnelli created Gamma Waves Partners, an investment firm that aims to find opportunities in innovative sports competitions and formats, as well as clubs and athletes.
Based in Amsterdam, where Agnelli currently lives, Gamma Waves Partners will manage money invested by the former Juventus boss and co-founders including Rocco Benetton and former Italian national team captain Giorgio Chiellini.
Agnelli became the vice-president of the European Super League, an exclusive league for the biggest teams in Europe. But the project collapsed in 2021 after strong public and political pressure, which forced the clubs to abandon the project.
With Gamma Waves, Agnelli aims to acquire minority stakes in projects to increase fan engagement with sports and may also invest in Artificial Intelligence companies to improve content or even the performance of athletes.
Under Agnelli’s 12-year leadership, between 2010 and 2022, Juventus won the Italian Serie A nine times and reached the Champions League final twice. The Italian left the Old Lady under controversial circumstances, with the team being accused of inflating capital gains from player transfers.
There was no admission of guilt in the agreement that determined a 20-year suspended sentence, and Agnelli maintains his innocence.
Gamma Waves has received €55 million in firm funding commitments out of a target of €100 million to date.