Reports: AS Roma sale close

ROME (AP) - A Swiss-based group is close to buying a controlling stake in AS Roma, Italian media reported Saturday, with an announcement expected early next week.

Roma has only said that the group represented by Vinicio Fioranelli had expressed an interest in the team, and that checks by Compagnia Italpetroli SpA, the company that controls the club, were under way.

Italpetroli holds a 67-percent stake in Roma.

Gazzetta dello Sport said Saturday that financial adviser Mediobanca finished its audit of the Fioranelli group's proposal and gave a positive assessment. Gazzetta and other reports said the deal might be finalized and announced on Monday.

Gazzetta said the deal would be worth about €300 million (about $418 million). The club is listed on the Italian stock market.

Franco Sensi, an oil man, took over the club in 1993 through the Italpetroli company. He died last year and his daughter, Rosella Sensi, is club chairwoman.

Roma won the league title in the 2000-2001 season.