Football: From the Gulf to Europe - Who owns what club
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(From left) France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy, president of Paris Saint-Germain Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin attend the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 match between PSG and Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Tuesday.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – After a Qatari consortium’s multi-billion-pound bid for the takeover of English Premier League club Manchester United
England
Manchester City: Since 2008, the club has been owned by Sheikh Mansour, a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family. The deal was worth around €250 million (S$356.9 million). Six Premier League titles have followed, with the club labelled the “noisy neighbours” by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, changing the balance of football power in the city and indeed England as a whole. But the Champions League remains elusive.
Newcastle United: Acquired in October 2021 by the Saudi Public Investment Fund
Sheffield United: Currently chasing promotion from the second division. United World Group, a Saudi company led by Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, took control of the club in February 2018 for a payment of around €5.6 million.
Wigan Athletic: In March 2021, the company Phoenix 2021 Limited, led by Bahraini businessman Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi, bought the second-tier club who sit in the Manchester suburbs.
France
Paris Saint-Germain: In May 2011, Qatar Sports Investment took control of the Parisian club for an initial investment of approximately €70 million. President Nasser Al-Khelaifi now values the club at €4 billion.
Troyes: In September 2020, City Football Group (Abu Dhabi) added the Ligue 1 club to its portfolio, for an estimated €7.5 million.
Spain
Getafe: The Royal Emirates group, based in Dubai, bought the Madrid-based club in April 2011 for nearly €90 million.
Almeria: The controversial Turki Al-Sheikh, a minister close to the powerful Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, and chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, took control of the Andalusian club in August 2019. According to the local media, it cost him less than €20 million.
Girona: In August 2017, City Football Group integrated the Catalan club into its portfolio, of which it is co-majority shareholder (44.3 per cent) alongside Pere Guardiola, the younger brother of Man City coach Pep, for an estimated €7 million.
From left: Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan, Turki al-Sheikh, a Saudi Minister and owner of Spanish club Almeria, and PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi are pictured ahead of the Riyadh Season Cup between the Riyadh All-Stars and Paris Saint-Germain in Riyadh on Jan 19.
PHOTO: AFP
Italy
Palermo: In July 2022, the Sicilian club, currently in the second division, became the latest to join the glittering City Football Group, which took 80 per cent of the capital for around €13 million. AFP
