March 5 – India is the latest untapped footballing country targeted by the owners of Manchester City to expand their international portfolio.
City Football Group (CFG) recently increased its club stable to seven clubs after buying a stake in Chinese third-division side Sichuan Jiuniu FC. The group also owns or has shares in New York City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F Marinos, Atletico Torque and Girona.
Now, said CFG chief executive Ferran Soriano, a club in India is on the radar.
“We have some interest in some markets and countries where there is a genuine football passion and opportunities, like China but also India. So there might be other opportunities in Asia,” he said
“We’ve been looking at India for nearly two years now. I’d say this year we’ll end up doing an investment in India.”
“As we see it now, there is a natural pace of growth that we will follow that takes us to more than seven teams, but not 100 teams.”
“I cannot see 10 years ahead but the group might have two or three teams more. Is this going to change in five years and we’re going to have more? Maybe, I don’t know that.
“But to complete the vision that we had six years ago, I think we will have maybe two or three clubs more.”
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