Joseph Portelli in advanced talks to buy Italian Serie D club Nocerina

Joseph Portelli is in advanced talks to buy Italian Serie D club Nocerina, the Times of Malta can confirm.

The Ħamrun Spartans president has made no secret of his ambition to buy an Italian club, and during the past few months, he has been linked with a number of teams.

Earlier this month, the Times of Malta had reported that Portelli had made a bid to buy Serie D side Siena.

However, his offer was turned down by the Italian club as Siena owner Jonas Bodin had made it clear that he was not interested in selling the club.

Read also: https://sport.timesofmalta.com/2026/01/08/joseph-portelli-has-e1-3m-bid-for-siena-calcio-turned-down-by-italian-club/

His failed bid to buy Siena Calcio has not discouraged Portelli from pursuing his dream of buying an Italian club, and reports in Italy have confirmed this week that the Gozitan businessman is in advanced talks to buy Nocerina.

 The report in the Italian media said that Portelli is keen to take over Nocerina, given the Italian club’s attractive location in the region of Campania and, more importantly, the passion of the club’s fans, an ingredient that the Ħamrun Spartans president always looks for when trying to take over a club.

One major similarity that exists between Ħamrun Spartans and Nocerina is the club’s colours, as the Italian club’s players also don red and black shirts.

In an interview with the Times last December, Portelli’s main plan when buying an Italian club like Nocerina is to invest in the team and guide it up the echelons of Italian football with the dream of winning promotion to the Serie A.

Nocerina was bought by three American businessmen in 2022, namely Giancarlo Natale, Raffaele Scalzi, and Louie A. Goros.

Nocerina are currently enjoying a very positive season in the Italian Serie D as they are fourth in the standings on 33 points, and are occupying one of the places in the promotion play-offs.