Canadian rapper Drake has further expanded his relationship with professional football after saving Venezia from bankruptcy.
A new article by GQ Italy revealed that the musician was surprisingly one of the main figures in financially supporting the Italian club. Venezia was heavily in debt and facing possible relegation to Serie D in the 2023/24 season.
However, the Canadian’s support and his strong performances on the pitch will earn Venezia promotion to Serie A in the 2024/25 season.
According to the article, conversations between close friends Matte Babel (Drake’s Chief Brand Officer) and Brad Katsuyama (co-owner of Venezia) led to the 37-year-old musician offering financial support.
“I got a call from Brad… He explained the problem to me in a simple way,” Babel revealed in an interview. “Venezia needs to raise 10 million euros in a few weeks and then at least 30 million euros in a few months, otherwise the club will go bankrupt.”
“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 reached an agreement, raised the money needed to pay the salaries and avoid bankruptcy.”
Looking ahead to the new season, Katsuyama is excited to see how far the club can go in Italy’s top league thanks to such an investment. In addition, Drake’s company NOCTA is set to become the club’s new shirt sponsor.
“Matte was my first call when I knew the club needed help,” confirmed Katsuyama. Drake’s value to any football club is undeniable, given his status as a global superstar and the reach of his brand.
“This intersection between culture and sport is exactly what we are aiming for and the opportunity to work with a brand like NOCTA that is moving in the same direction is incredibly valuable.”
“We know that every game in Serie A will be a tough battle. But in a way, the club has already achieved a great result because the team has played great all season and we managed to raise money and save the club.”
Drake has previously worked with Barcelona to create a special OVO jersey and also helped FIFA President Gianni Infantino announce Canada’s host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
