Roma denies deal has been reached over sale

ROME (AP) - AS Roma quashed media speculation Saturday that it had reached an agreement to sell a controlling stake to a Swiss-based group.

However, Rome said in a statement Saturday that contacts with the group, represented by Vinicio Fioranelli, were under way.

Gazzetta dello Sport and other reports said that a deal between Compagnia Italpetroli SpA - which controls the Serie A club - and the Fioranelli group was close to being finalized and could be announced as soon as Monday.

Roma said that "no kind of deal has been signed" but repeated its position that the Fioranelli group had expressed an interest in the team, and that checks by Italpetroli and its financial adviser Mediobanca were ongoing over the group's credentials.

Italpetroli holds a 67 percent stake in Roma.

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

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

Roma last won the league title in the 2000-01 season.