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I'm Luigi Barcella, a regional executive with over 25 years of leadership across legal advisory, e-sports management and business development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. I excel at structuring ventures, guiding complex negotiations, and setting up semi-government and government JV projects, while advising boards on strategic investments, compliance, and sustainable growth. As a former professional football player, I bring discipline, teamwork, and a global network to drive sports technology, international trade, and brand expansion. I have led partnerships with royal families and government entities, built sports academies, and steered cross-border import-export from factory to market. I am passionate about leveraging AI in training, delivering impactful sports events, and creating value for partners and communities.…I'm Luigi Barcella, a regional executive with over 25 years of leadership across legal advisory, e-sports management and business development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. I excel at structuring ventures, guiding complex negotiations, and setting up semi-government and government JV projects, while advising boards on strategic investments, compliance, and sustainable growth. As a former professional football player, I bring discipline, teamwork, and a global network to drive sports technology, international trade, and brand expansion. I have led partnerships with royal families and government entities, built sports academies, and steered cross-border import-export from factory to market. I am passionate about leveraging AI in training, delivering impactful sports events, and creating value for partners and communities.

Luigi Barcella

Project Manager, Film Director, Executive Producer, +2

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I'm Luigi Barcella, a regional executive with over 25 years of leadership across legal advisory, e-sports management and business development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. I excel at structuring ventures, guiding complex negotiations, and setting up semi-government and government JV projects, while advising boards on strategic investments, compliance, and sustainable growth. As a former professional football player, I bring discipline, teamwork, and a global network to drive sports technology, international trade, and brand expansion. I have led partnerships with royal families and government entities, built sports academies, and steered cross-border import-export from factory to market. I am passionate about leveraging AI in training, delivering impactful sports events, and creating value for partners and communities.…I'm Luigi Barcella, a regional executive with over 25 years of leadership across legal advisory, e-sports management and business development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. I excel at structuring ventures, guiding complex negotiations, and setting up semi-government and government JV projects, while advising boards on strategic investments, compliance, and sustainable growth. As a former professional football player, I bring discipline, teamwork, and a global network to drive sports technology, international trade, and brand expansion. I have led partnerships with royal families and government entities, built sports academies, and steered cross-border import-export from factory to market. I am passionate about leveraging AI in training, delivering impactful sports events, and creating value for partners and communities.

Available to hire

I’m Luigi Barcella, a regional executive with over 25 years of leadership across legal advisory, e-sports management and business development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. I excel at structuring ventures, guiding complex negotiations, and setting up semi-government and government JV projects, while advising boards on strategic investments, compliance, and sustainable growth.

As a former professional football player, I bring discipline, teamwork, and a global network to drive sports technology, international trade, and brand expansion. I have led partnerships with royal families and government entities, built sports academies, and steered cross-border import-export from factory to market. I am passionate about leveraging AI in training, delivering impactful sports events, and creating value for partners and communities.

Skills

Leadership

Experience Level

Leadership

Expert

Language

Italian

Fluent

English

Fluent

French

Fluent

Arabic

Fluent

Work Experience

Middle East Consultant / Personal Representative Advisor to Javier Zanetti at PUPI UNIVERSITY OF SPORTS & TECHNOLOGY

May 1, 2023 - Present

Project Team-Leader and Content Creator guiding the Feasibility Study and Financial Business Plan for expansion into ME, NA, and CA regions; Ambassador-Coordinator representing Javier Zanetti to Government Entities and Royal Family Members to secure Partner-Investors; Developing the ALL FOR ALL concept integrating sports, tourism, and wellness; Overseeing the implementation of AI technologies in training programs and launching ActivESPORTS-4D GAMES, fusing virtual e-sports with physical reality.

GDS & Legal Business Advisor (General Sport Director) at TEBYAN HOLDING & TEBYAN E-SPORT

June 1, 2022 - May 1, 2024

Legal Business Advisor to the Chairman HRH Sheikha Badriyah Hamad J.M. Al Sabah; General Sport Director (GDS); acquiring new technologies to improve national world green ranking and partnering with Electric Motorsports properties; Established new Sports Academies for youth and Special Needs Organizations; Provided financial and economic advisory for Government and Private Sector projects, handling banking facilities and investment funds for sport infrastructure regeneration.

Corporate Legal Director, Head of BD MENA at MELEIH ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS

September 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021

Advised the Board on legal business matters and headed Business Development for the MENA region; Procured solutions for Partnership Agreements and identified strategic investors; Executed strategies to align project purposes with client responsibilities and legal frameworks.

Group Business Development Director (UAE) at ARABIAN COMPANY OIL & GAS SERVICES

May 1, 2013 - May 1, 2016

Managed Group Companies’ requirements and developed relationships with potential investors; Established M/S CLEVELAND INDUSTRIAL VALVE Ltd. UK factory in the UAE through strategic Joint Venture agreements.

Associate Consultant / Project Director at BIN HAM GROUP ENTERPRISES

September 1, 2009 - September 1, 2011

Personal Business Adviser to the Owner / Chairman; Researched and guided foreign private investors and public institutions on investment pathways; Managed client interfaces and consortium/consultant interactions at the Board Level.

Project Director, Head of BD MENA at CURRIE AND BROWN INT. LTD

June 1, 2006 - April 1, 2009

Directed major ventures including the F1 Yas Island Project in partnership with AL DAR; Advised senior management on legal and contractual risks for investments in new areas; Built international client databases and established the Consortium to Tender major Hospital Project in Abu Dhabi, supporting feasibility studies and financial reports.

GM and Partner at HORIZON-BARCELLA LLC

September 1, 2002 - May 1, 2006

Partner and Right-Hand to HE. Muhannad Faisal Al Adwan; Directed legal and contractual aspects of company set-up and market penetration; Contracted top-tier architects and engineering firms for Health-Care, Education, and Industrial projects.

F&B Branch Manager and Partner at ITALIAN OAIS B&B

September 1, 1997 - July 1, 2002

Partner and collaborator to HH. Shk. Hamed Al Hamed Bin Butti; Managed the Abu Dhabi Italian Shopping Centre as sole distributor of exclusive Italian/French brands; Supplied Military Forces, Government Authorities, and Embassies.

Marketing Export Manager at CACCIAMALI SPA

July 1, 1993 - November 1, 1996

Introduced and promoted the brand in the Middle East; Secured contracts with Dubai Entities for heavy-carpentry assistance and bus body assembly.

Chief Accounting at CACCIAMALI SRL

September 1, 1990 - June 1, 1993

Responsible for the Administrative Financial Group; Co-ordinated financial aspects, payrolls, annual reports, and banking relations.