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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Drake saved Venezia from bankruptcy</li><li>Finished third in Serie B to secure promotion</li><li>Phone call convinced rapper to bail them out</li></ul>

Revealed: How rap icon Drake helped Serie A side Venezia escape bankruptcy in €40m fundraiser

Serie A

Venezia

Lecce

<p>The Venice-based club were on the brink of declaring themselves bankrupt after spending heavily to strengthen their squad during the 2022-23 season in order to keep themselves afloat in the Italian second division.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The club signed close to 30 players to survive relegation to Serie C during the 2022-23 season, but the massive spending took a toll on their financial health as they then had to sell players to raise money, or risk falling to Serie D. That is when club co-owner Brad Katsuyama got in touch with Drake's brand officer Matte Babel to explain their situation. Soon enough, the musician was on board to bail the club out financially.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.gqitalia.it/article/drake-venezia-calcio" target="_blank"><em>GQ</em></a> on the deal between Drake and the club, Babel said: "I got a call from Brad, co-owner of Venezia and a good friend of mine. He laid out the problem to me in a simple way: Venezia has to raise €10 million in a couple of weeks, and then at least €30 million in a few months, or the club will go bankrupt.</p><p>"Venice is an incredible city and Venezia has always been a special club. I spoke to Drake, then Brad and I discussed the details of how we could help. Within two weeks we had a deal, raised the money needed to pay the salaries and avoid bankruptcy."</p>

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

<p>Drake's contribution helped the Winged Lions massively as they finished third in Serie B in the 2023-24 campaign and secured a place in the top division. They will kick off the new season on Sunday with a game against Brescia in the Coppa Italia.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR VENEZIA?

Revealed: How rap icon Drake helped Serie A side Venezia escape bankruptcy in €40m fundraiser | Goal.com US

Famous rap artist Drake helped newly promoted Serie A side Venezia escape bankruptcy last year.