Kobe Bryant, Italian soccer owner? NBA superstar puts kibosh on Bologna reports | SIDELINE

Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Kobe Bryant, Italian soccer owner.


Maybe someday, but don't go believing the pink pages of La Gazzetta dello Sport just yet.



Following a report that the Los Angeles Lakers guard and NBA superstar was a member of a consortium close to purchasing Serie B side Bologna, Bryant put the kibosh on reports he was set to pony up around $450,000 as part of investor Joe Tacopina's ownership group.



Bryant's affection for the beautiful game is widely known, with the six-time NBA champion attending matches at this summer's World Cup in Brazil and making frequent trips to Europe for big matches and club visits.


US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was critical of Bryant's contract with the Lakers in a New York Times piece earlier this year, comments the 36-year-old Bryant said he found "pretty funny."