Galliani, Berlusconi family exit Monza as U.S. takeover confirmed

MONZA, Italy -- Monza CEO and vice president Adriano Galliani is leaving his boyhood club after American fund Beckett Layne Ventures completed the purchase of the Italian second-division club on Thursday. The closing of the sale -- which was agreed in July -- also sees the Berlusconi family leave soccer again. Monza said in a statement that BLV has "officially taken control of the club" with an 80% stake. Fininvest, the Berlusconi's family holding company, retains a 20% stake but that will be transferred to BLV by next June. The 81-year-old Galliani said he turned down BLV's offer of the Monza presidency. "This morning I communicated to the new ownership, who I sincerely thank for the opportunity, and to Fininvest my decision not to accept the position of Monza president that was offered to me," Galliani said in a statement. "It was a difficult choice, I was born and raised in Monza