The South American giant that Donald Trump wanted to buy

In a surprising turn of events, the Trump Organization, led by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, once expressed keen interest in acquiring Colombian football club Atlético Nacional. However, the deal fell through due to a significant disagreement over the club's valuation.

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According to Colombian media reports, the Trump Organization, through its investment arm Proto Group, initially offered a staggering US$100 million for a 100% stake in the club, which would have been approximately 400 billion Colombian pesos. However, the club's owners in Medellín were reportedly seeking a higher valuation of US$150 million.

This substantial gap in the valuation led to a breakdown in negotiations. The Trump Organization expressed their frustration with the club's asking price, with a spokesperson reportedly stating, "The proposal is unacceptable. Perhaps they think we're stupid." As a result, any further progress in the deal was halted.

Alessandro Proto, an Italian billionaire involved in the negotiations on behalf of the Trump Organization, expressed disappointment at the failed deal. "It's a shame because we had a very important development plan for Nacional. We will evaluate other clubs," Proto said at the time.

Interestingly, a different narrative emerged in 2017, when a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told Colprensa that they had been working on the deal for months and were awaiting a response from Atlético Nacional's owners. The spokesperson praised the club, stating, "In the evaluations we have been doing of several teams, Nacional seemed to us to be the best."

The contrasting statements from the Trump Organization highlight the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the negotiations. While the deal ultimately fell through, the episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the global reach of Donald Trump's business interests and the potential impact of foreign investment in South American football.