It can on occasion feel like scarcely a week goes by without a U.S. investor securing for themselves an Italian football club. From giants of calcio such as Fiorentina and Roma to comparative minnows Catania and Pisa, the influx of cash from across the Atlantic seems relentless.

The logic is clear. For the most part these are assets that are available for the fraction of the cost of a U.S. sports franchise, that have perhaps not always been run with a clear eye on the financials, leaving new revenue streams to exploit and who, thanks to the rich history of the sport in Italy, often have a reach far beyond their town or city.