The Giallorossi have been a subject of interest from many parties lately as the club’s parent company Italpetroli has debts of around £290m.

More than 15,000 Roma fans have recently signed a petition to urge Roma owners sell the club to American businessman George Soros.

Talks between Soros and Roma have stopped for unknown reasons. Sawiris apparently entered the frame to buy the club that lies second in the Serie A table.

Calcio Italia stated that the 54-year-old is in pole position to buy the club.

Sawiris is the chairman of Orascom Telecom, the first multinational Egyptian corporation, which owns Mobinil, the first mobile phone operator in the country.

In 2008, Forbes magazine estimated his wealth at $12.7 billion.