City Football Group (CFG) is expected to make further moves to enhance their presence and appeal to fans in China. This follows the group owner Sheikh Mansour selling a 13% stake in his £2 billion football business to Chinese investors led by the state-backed company, China Media Capital Holdings (CMC) and CITIC Capital.

The takeover deal is of great importance in CFG’s efforts to open up a new front in the commercial race between Europe’s top clubs to conquer the Chinese market. 

CFG already have offices in New York, Singapore, Japan and Abu Dhabi and are expected to open another soon, in Shanghai. The club also plans to embark on a major tour of China next summer. Their last major game on the Chinese mainland was in 2012 against Arsenal in Beijing’s Olympic stadium, the Bird’s Nest, the summer after they wrapped up their first Premier League title.

Manchester City FC’s owner also expressed his interest in acquiring a Chinese Super League (CSL) club back in September.  

European clubs are taking the Chinese market extremely seriously. Bayern Munich have opened their own commercial office in Shanghai. Spain’s La Liga and its mega club Barcelona have also announced their respective plans to set up commercial offices in Shanghai with the aim of growing their business in the market. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich toured there last summer. It was the fourth summer tour to China in 12 years for Spain’s 10-times European champions. Manchester United are also considering their first major pre-season tour of the country next summer. 

Source: telegraph

Proofread by John Devlin