Top clubs have been eyeing the Chinese market with its 1.3 billion increasingly consumerist population for some time, but for so far no one has really make a breakthrough. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have just scratched the surface.
Then in November came the news that China Media Investment Holdings, a government-backed investment group, had bought a 13 per cent holding in City Football Group, the owners of Manchester City.
Top clubs have been eyeing the Chinese market with its 1.3 billion increasingly consumerist population for some time, but for so far no one has really make a breakthrough. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have just scratched the surface.
Then in November came the news that China Media Investment Holdings, a government-backed investment group, had bought a 13 per cent holding in City Football Group, the owners of Manchester City.
City think it is the most important deal since Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008. Not only did it value the club at $3 billion, but it gave the club a significant foothold in China.
City already have their partner clubs in New York, Melbourne and Yokohama and are looking at similar ventures in Africa and South America, but now they intend to look for a partner club in the increasingly powerful China Super League.
A partnership with a club in Shanghai has been mooted, whether an existing club or a newly formed ‘Shanghai City’. The vision is for a global network of clubs in which expertise and personnel are passed around and commercial opportunities are maximised.