ROME (Reuters) - The majority shareholder of Italian football club AS Roma on Monday denied press reports it had begun procedures to sell its controlling stake or had received an offer to buy the club.

Newspapers have reported that Italpetroli SpA, linked to the Sensi family, was considering selling its controlling stake in AS Roma to U.S. billionaire investor George Soros or to the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.

"No offer has been formalised from (the foreign investor) or from others whom the press has suggested as potential buyers," Italpetroli said in a statement.

The statement spelled out it had received "no offer from the Arab Emirates royal family," and that all press reports in this regard were "groundless."

Italpetroli said on Friday it had held talks with a representative of a potential investor, but a sale was not imminent.