Joey Saputo Begins Process to Sell CF Montreal After 30 Years

CF Montreal sale process Joey Saputo, Digi Mart USA News (Montreal, Quebec): Joey Saputo has announced the start of the process to sell CF Montreal, a move that marks the end of an era for the club. The owner made the announcement Monday afternoon during a press conference.

Saputo founded CF Montreal in 1993 and took the team into Major League Soccer in 2012. Speaking with visible emotion, he said the decision was one of the most difficult of his life.

“After more than 30 years at the helm of CF Montreal, we have made the decision to begin a structured process toward selling the club,” he said. “We believe the time is right to begin the search for a new owner.”

The central question now is whether the team will remain in Quebec. Saputo did not commit to that outcome, but he made clear that it is his preference and that he believes the club’s future is still in Montreal.

“Since 1993, this club has held a central place in my life,” he said. “It is a family story and a true passion.

For me, this team has always been more than a business.”

Saputo recalled the club’s major successes over more than 30 years, including wins in the Canadian Championship and the creation of the CF Montreal Academy to develop local talent. “Our greatest achievement goes beyond sporting success.

We built a community of passionate supporters, created opportunities to help people connect, and helped make soccer an important part of this city’s identity. That is our legacy.”

The announcement follows a miserable season that left CF Montreal last in MLS with a record of 6-20-8. A little over a year after a letter announced a rebuilding phase, the team showed no visible progress, and its decisions did not pay off.

The signing of Alexis Sanchez over the summer raised hopes, but the veteran was unable to make a significant impact on the team’s fortunes.

In what appeared to be the season’s only potential bright spot, CF Montreal lost to Forge FC, a Canadian Premier League team, in the Canadian Championship final. Late in the season, the club also lost the support of two important supporter groups: 1642MTL and the Collectif Impact de Montreal.