Drake steps in to save much-loved Italian club from going BUST by helping raise more than £31million

POP STAR Drake has helped save Serie A side Venezia from going bankrupt.

The club, founded in 1907, were promoted to Italy's top flight last season after two years in the second tier.

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But it was their spending during their last stint in Serie A - the 2021/22 campaign - that landed them in huge amounts of debt.

Those financial problems were threatening to earn them a severe punishment which could have come in the form of relegation down to Serie D.

According to , Venezia's chief brand officer Matte Babel, a part of Drake's management team, then put in a call to the rapper.

And he used his expertise to help the Venice-based club out of their economic hole.

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Babel told : "He [Drake] laid out the problem, simply -- Venezia needs to raise ten million euros in a couple weeks, and then at least thirty million euros in a few months, or the club will go bankrupt.

"Venice is an incredible city and Venezia has always been a special club, I spoke to Drake, and then Brad [Venezia co-owner Brad Katsuyama] and I discussed how we could help."

Within a fortnight, on Drake's advice, Venezia had raised the funds needed to avoid going bust, receiving around £31million from North American investors.

Babel added: "The value of Drake to any football club is undeniable given his global superstardom and brand reach.

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"This intersection of culture and sport is exactly where we want to be and as a sports organization the ability to tap a brand like NOCTA that also teeters the same line is incredibly valuable."

Since then, Venezia bosses have bolstered their squad with new signings as they prepare for Serie A football.

There has also been investment into upgrading club facilities - work that is projected to be completed ahead of the 2027/28 season.