MANCHESTER CITY have hit the jackpot today after being taken over by an
Arabian investment group.
The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ABUG) have moved in
at Eastlands.
A £200million deal was agreed last night between the former owner Thaksin
Shinawatra and ADUG.
The new owners will be represented on the board by Hydra Properties chief
executive Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim.
And he has already told boss Mark Hughes that big things are now expected in
the blue half of Manchester.
Al Fahim said: “We will release details later but this is a great event for
both the club and Abu Dhabi.
"Our goal is very simple – to make Manchester City the biggest club in
the Premier League, and to begin with, to finish in the top four this
season.
“We will adopt marketing plans that reflect positively on the club and the
company from investments in all sectors of television marketing and
purchasing of the star players, as well as development of infrastructure
facilities at the club.”
A City statement added: “Manchester City can confirm that a Memorandum of
Understanding has been signed between the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) and
Manchester City Football Club.
“A period of due diligence for all parties, including the FA Premier League
has now been entered. A further statement will be released by the club in
due course.”
City's future under former Thailand prime minister Shinawatra, who will stay
on as honorary president, appeared uncertain as he struggling to stump to
cash.
But Al Fahim claims the new owners will clear any of the club's debts as well
as bringing in top talent.
Shinawatra had big plans for the Blues when he took over 14 months ago but his
hopes have been dashed amid legal wrangling in his own country — with
millions of his investments frozen.
The situation worsened further still recently when his wife Pojaman was
sentenced to three years in prison on a variety of corruption charges,
although she has since been released on bail.
Shinawatra himself is facing similar charges but flew to England last month on
the day he was due to make a court appearance in Thailand.
He and his wife were due to return to their homeland in time to answer court
in a separate property case.
Shinawatra, who has always insisted the charges are politically motivated,
said that they planned to stay in England “where democracy is more
important”.
Man City ce se izgleda tuci s Chelsea za velike transfere... iskrcali su 40 milja EUR za Robinha, britanski rekord mislim... Charlie krivo izabrao
, izgleda da i nije bio u planovima M. Hughesa
[uredio dicquelme - 02. rujna 2008. u 02:20]