Maxi López Buys Swiss Club FC Paradiso and Launches Ambitious Post-Retirement Project

Former Argentine striker Maximiliano López, who began his career at River Plate and won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2006, has taken a major step in his post-football career. As reported by Bolavip, López has acquired a 40% stake in Swiss third-division club FC Paradiso through his investment firm, Maxaco Capital.

The club, founded in 1917 and based near Lugano, plays in the Promotion League and currently sits mid-table after 28 rounds. The small venue holds just 1,000 fans, but big dreams are taking shape under López’s leadership. The project, dubbed “Sueño Paradiso” (Paradiso Dream), aims to invest in youth development, marketing, and technical management.

The announcement was made on López’s social media platforms, where he described the move as “the beginning of a new and ambitious chapter.” He was welcomed at the club by fellow Argentine-Italian Ezequiel Schelotto, a former Racing and Premier League player who now features in Paradiso’s squad.

Since retiring in 2021 with Italian lower-division side Sambenedettese, López has turned his focus to sports business. He briefly held a stake in England’s Birmingham City in 2022, but the deal collapsed after fan backlash. Now, with a more measured approach in Switzerland, López hopes to build a successful legacy off the pitch as he once did on it.