American billionaire George Soros is reported to have given up on takeover plans for Roma.

In recent months there have been regular rumours that the Sensi family are ready to sell their stake in the Giallorossi because their parent company Italpetroli are suffering from financial troubles.

Italpetroli have debts totalling around £290m and could relieve the pressure by retracting their interest in the Lupi.

Il Messaggero says Soros finds the asking price for Roma too steep.