Liverpool, Manchester United ownership dilemma hits Serie A

American businessman Tim Barton, who confirmed this week that he has reached a pre-contract agreement to purchase Italian soccer club Bari from the Matarrese family, could spark a wave of foreign investment in Italian soccer.

Barton will become the first American owner of a major Italian soccer club on completion of the deal, expected to be by the end of October. That isolation is in stark contrast to the English Premier League, where a number of clubs have been taken over by US investors in recent years. They include Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the co-owners of Liverpool, as well as the Glazer family who own Manchester United.

Debate has raged about whether such investment has been a blessing or a curse for the English game. With Barton's agreement with Bari, that debate is one that at last concerns Italian soccer.

• Manchester United: The world's 8th most valuable sports property
• Liverpool: The world's 27th most valuable sports property

"This is a fantastic opportunity," Barton said in a statement. "The Bari fans are passionate about their team, and with the new management, we hope to grow this franchise into one of the most successful and competitive in Europe."