THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Manchester City owners City Football Group look at club investment in India

City Football Group

The City Football Group, who own Manchester City FC and six other football clubs around the world, are set to focus on buying into a club in India after a recent deal in China.

City Football Group besides Manchester City FC also own or are a co-owner of New York City FC (USA), Melbourne City FC (Australia), Yokohama F Marinos (Japan), Atletico Torque (Uruguay), FC Girona (Spain), and Sichuan Jiuniu FC (China).

CFG’s CEO Ferran Soriano, in-charge of Manchester City and formerly with FC Barcelona, said, “With all these developments we have to be patient. 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.”

“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.”

But added, “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.”

Rumours has it that CFG are looking at investing at Mumbai City FC after another candidate in TATA owned Jamshedpur FC decided to partner with Atletico Madrid for their youth development.

But things have not been finalised and a number of ISL franchises are currently up for sale.