Italian energy group Eni is not involved in any talks regarding loss-making carrier Alitalia, an Eni spokesman said on Thursday, denying a report in financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore.

The paper said on Thursday that under an Alitalia rescue plan being prepared by the government, state-controlled firms led by Italian state railways would end up with 51 percent of the airline. They could include Poste Italiane and Eni, it said.

"We have not been involved in any operation on Alitalia and the idea of us investing in the company is unfounded," the spokesman said in an emailed statement.