It has been confirmed that Behring has taken over ownership of Pro Recco, ending months of uncertainty.
The club was thrown into chaos on July 5, 2024, when Orlean Invest and its chairman, Gabriele Volpi, withdrew their funding for Pro Recco, ending a 19-year period of support.
At the time, it was unclear how Pro Recco — 11-time Champions League winners — could avoid going completely bankrupt. Some players, such as Gergo Zalanki, Konstantinos Kakaris, and Alvaro Granados (who never made an appearance for the club), opted to leave during the summer.
However, the Behring Foundation, an international nonprofit led by Brazilian billionaire Alexandre Behring, will now financially back the club ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Behring, a Harvard alumnus and co-founder of global investment giant 3G Capital, is best known for his role in acquiring major brands such as Burger King. Forbes estimates his fortune at $6.3 billion, placing him among the top 500 wealthiest individuals worldwide. Now, Behring, who once played water polo himself, is set to channel his passion for the sport into guiding Recco into a new era.
The approval of the takeover was granted by the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN) on Tuesday.
Lucas Giannini, CEO of Behring Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to begin this new chapter and partner with Pro Recco, the most successful club in the world. We want to continue its extraordinary sporting tradition and showcase the power that water polo has to improve people’s lives.”
The team’s management will remain under the guidance of Maurizio Felugo, a former player who transitioned to the role of the club’s director in recent years. Felugo, who played a pivotal role in establishing Pro Recco as a global brand, is enthusiastic about this new phase. “This is an exciting challenge for us, full of joy and responsibility. With the determination of the new ownership, we are confident in our ability to continue writing history,” said Felugo.
Pro Recco are in Euro Cup action this weekend, and will face Primorje, along with BVSC and Terrassa.