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Abu Dhabi becomes the largest soccer investor in the world
Man City owners Prince Mansour bin Zayed to purchase 12th club with Italian side pushing for Serie A return
The City Football Group (CFG) is a holding company founded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, who with the Abu Dhabi United Group owns the majority shares (77%). CFG is an increasingly assertive financial leader, which owns 12 football clubs and is about to expand its acquisitions to Brazil and to Holland. From England, to France, from Japan to Uruguay and to Italy, CFG is becoming a force of nature across the football world. In July of 2022, CFG finalized the acquisition of Palermo, the Italian soccer team playing in Serie B (the second most important league) and it is rumored to be finalizing the term sheet (financial papers) to acquire the Dutch team Breda. With these acquisitions, Abu Dhabi is now playing a leading role in the top Italian, Spanish, English and possibly Dutch football leagues.
There is no doubt that CFG is becoming the most powerful financier and manager in international football. At the corporate level, CGG is a global holding company, with 78% owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group (under the leadership of High Royal Highness Prince Mansour) with minority shareholding positions of American Investor Silver Lake and Chinese Corporation China Media Capital and CITIC Capital. The group is set to expand its ownership base by purchasing more clubs including the Bahia…