Sawiris denies interest in Roma takeover

Reports in Italy said that Sawiris is in pole position to takeover the Giallorossi as the club’s parent company Italpetroli has debts of around $570m.

However, the 54-year-old insists he hadn't thought about presenting a bid to buy Roma.

"Those reports are totally untrue. I have no intention of buying Roma," Sawiris was quoted as saying by BBC Arabic.

"If I thought about buying any club, my attention will be directed to (Egyptian club) Ahli."

Under the current laws, Egyptian clubs can't be sold because they are owned by the government.

Sawiris is the chairman of Orascom Telecom, the first multinational Egyptian corporation, which owns Mobinil, the first mobile phone operator in the country.

In 2008, Forbes magazine estimated his wealth at $12.7 billion.