“Rocco! Rocco! Rocco!” The shouts echoed around ACF Fiorentina’s 88-year-old stadium on a Sunday evening in January as the home crowd celebrated a narrow win against Spal that may prove crucial in keeping their team in Italy’s top football league. The adulation wasn’t for a star player or coach, but for the club’s new owner, Rocco Commisso, the billionaire founder of American cable company Mediacom.

“He is the best president Fiorentina ever had,” said Matteo Cupini, 44, a lifelong fan who attended the game wearing an Uncle Sam Hat. “He is number one.” Mr Commisso, 70, who grew up in the Bronx and played football for Columbia University, has worked hard to win over supporters since buying the Florence-based club in June.