VivendiSA's four representatives on Telecom Italia SpA's board are reportedly urging theItalian telco to support EI Towers SpA's for a stake inInfrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA, or INWIT.

The Vivendi board members prefer the offer from -backed EI Towerssince it would enable Telecom Italia to retain a bigger share of its towersunit, Telecompaper reported March 29, citing La Repubblica.

In contrast, the bid from a consortium between 's Cellnex Telecom and Italian infrastructure fundF2i would allow Telecom Italia to keep only less than 15% of INWIT.

The sale of the INWIT stake was reportedly one of thereasons for Vivendi's spat with former Telecom Italia CEO Marco Patuano, whichled to the latter's resignation.