Rome, March 30 (IANS/AKI) An American investor group led by Thomas DiBenedetto, part owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, has agreed to purchase the AS Roma football squad.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay back 277 million euros owed to UniCredit, Italy's biggest bank, by the Sensi family's Italpetroli holding company.

UniCredit owns 49 percent and Italpetroli 51 percent of Newco Roma, the holding company that holds 67 percent of Roma, according to a joint statement released Tuesday.

Roma, founded in 1927, last won the Serie A title in 2001 and is currently in sixth place, trailing leder Milan by 12 points.

The deal is due to be signed within 20 days. UniCredit may later sell part of its stake, to "Italian strategic investors", the statement said.

DiBenedetto recently said he has big plans for the club.

"I dream of a team that can win trophies every year," he has said, according to Tribalfootball.com. "We will become one of the best clubs in the world."