“With Palermo, we are halfway through our journey,” Giovanni Gardini said at the SFS

In 2019, Palermo F.C. was relegated to Serie C, going through one of the darkest phases in its history. Today, however, the club plays in Serie B and is one of the most interesting entities in the Italian and European football scene, not only in sporting terms but also from a communication and managerial perspective.

This and much more were discussed at the SFS, held on November 19 and 20 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. During the Football Stage panel, Sky Sport journalist Luca Marchetti interviewed Giovanni Gardini, CEO and General Director of the Rosanero. Their conversation, in front of a large audience, delved into fundamental and strategic concepts.

First and foremost, the forward-looking vision of the club’s main shareholders was highlighted. They work daily with a long-term vision to advance their concept of “industrial football.” The project progresses on two complementary tracks: the sporting side — about which Gardini himself admitted, “we are slightly behind where we expected to be” — and the business side — “immediately behind Italy’s top five clubs in terms of organizational and managerial aspects”.

The added value brought by the club in terms of infrastructure was also emphasized, including a museum space, a sports center, and the plans for a new stadium. This was made possible by land purchases previously undertaken by former owner Dario Mirri, which, in just 14 months, facilitated the construction of two football fields for the first team, a clubhouse, and extensive locker room facilities.

“The stadium,” Gardini said, “is an asset we are heavily focusing on, and we’ve already advanced negotiations to acquire another plot of land for the new construction. Our dialogue with the Public Administration is geared towards choices that are suitable and aligned with the needs of modern football.” This is a significant investment with far-reaching implications, especially considering that Palermo might be one of the potential host cities for the UEFA European Championship in 2032.

Gardini also underlined the strength — not just commercially — of the Sicilian capital. Record-breaking numbers compare favorably to many Serie B and Serie A clubs: 13,600 season ticket holders, an average attendance of 24,000 spectators, and various organized supporter groups even attending away games. Additionally, numerous foreign fans take advantage of the tourist opportunity to visit Renzo Barbera Stadium.

“The City Football Group believes that Italian football has significant potential but lacks strategic vision. Today, we’re only halfway through our journey”, said the Rosanero CEO in response to one of Luca Marchetti’s questions.

When the Emirati company acquired the club, many feared Palermo F.C. would become a mere “decision-making subsidiary.” However, this notion is incorrect, as economic dependency does not hinder the sharing of ideas and expertise across all areas of interest: sports, commerce, and healthcare. Being part of this global network, in fact, fosters both professional and personal growth while keeping the primary driver — the sporting result — at the forefront. How? By reducing the margin for errors, deploying expertise, and leveraging the fact that it is a young organization. Decision-making processes are shared, not imposed, with the goal of becoming one of Italy’s top ten teams in the short to medium term.

In conclusion, Gardini portrayed the image of a serious and self-aware organization. Economic and sporting objectives are set at the beginning of each season, and there is constant dialogue with local stakeholders. Maintaining a strong identity is crucial, as it distinguishes the City Football Group, which does not seek to “colonize” but rather entrusts management to figures who can invest in the team and help it grow.

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