While Manchester United are in negotiations to buy a player, Manchester City, not a team to be outdone financially, have bought a club.
With United busy in the final stages of signing Juan Mata in an effort to rejuvenate their season, a consortium led by Manchester City have completed the takeover of Australian football club Melbourne Heart.
City Chief Executive Ferran Soriano is relishing the prospect of making the Australian club one of the most successful clubs in the region.
“We are excited about the opportunity to make Melbourne Heart one of the most successful football clubs in Australia and throughout the region,” said Soriano.
“We believe the strong sports culture of Melbourne, combined with the football and commercial expertise within our consortium will make for a powerful combination both on and off the pitch.”
David Gallop, chief executive of the Football Federation of Australia, hailed the move as a sign of the potential for football in Australia.
“Football has moved into the mainstream of Australian sport, and it is ideally place to benefit from the boom in football across Asia,” he said.
“Manchester City and their Australian partners have made a strategic investment and I welcome them to our growing competition. It’s another sign that the world is taking notice of Australian football.”
City’s investment in the Melbourne club – who are currently bottom of the 10-team A-League – follows on from the establishment of its MLS Franchise New York City FC and the creation of the Manchester City’s Ladies team that are about to embark on their debut campaign in the Women’s Super League.
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