* Owner of AS Roma has asked DiBenedetto for more details
* Hopes to start exclusive negotiations
MILAN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The owner of Italian soccer club
AS Roma
Creditor bank UniCredit
Sports media said last week Thomas Di Benedetto, a partner in New England Sports Ventures, had been leading a group of investors to try and purchase AS Roma.
Italpetroli said it had asked the bidder for more details but added that it was hoping to launch within a few days an exclusive negotiation period with DiBenedetto.
Italian group Italpetroli holds a controlling stake in AS Roma, but creditor UniCredit de facto controls the group.
Creditors have been trying to force a sale for three years. (Reporting by Lisa Jucca; editing by Carol Bishopric)