Mad Football Business in Manchester

The city of Manchester in England is known for its industrial sector and partly made famous by the Manchester United football club (the club I support). That's the red part of the city. Wherelse the 'bluer' part of the city where Manchester City football club is located has not tasted football success for the last 20 years or so.

Manchester City's name has caught the attention of many football fans throughout the world when Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, one of the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, has purchased a majority interest in Manchester City from the deposed former Thailand Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

That surprising transaction has allowed a large inflow funds into Manchester City's coffer and allowed Mark Hughes the opportunity to buy the best football players that he wanted. In this scenario, I really doubt that he has any say in the signing of football players. I'm very very sure that it would be the Abu Dhabi owner's football fantasy game (just like those online or pc game - e.g. Football Manager 2009).

They have the money to splash around to buy whoever they want. Rumours are rife that Chelsea's owner's, Roman Abramovich, wealth is nothing compared to this Abu Dhabi oil magnate, heard that it was £12 billion compared to £550 billion.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the main person behind the scene, would be telling the management team in Manchester City to go for certain football players of his liking.

After snatching Robinho's from Chelsea, a list has been produced naming another eleven football players to make up a dream team that has been of interest to this Sheikh royalty:-

City Dream Team
1. Gianluigi Buffon Italy's World Cup-winning goalkeeper who plays for Juventus
2. Daniel Alves Brazil right back, signed by Barcelona for £24 million from Seville this summer
3. Rio Ferdinand Manchester United and England centre back and the “best defender in the world”, according to Sir Alex Ferguson
4. Fabio Cannavaro Real Madrid defender and 2006 Fifa World Player of the Year
5. Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich and Germany left back
6. Cristiano Ronaldo United forward and arguably the best player on the planet
7. Steven Gerrard Liverpool's captain and inspiration
8. Cesc Fàbregas Dynamic Arsenal and Spain midfield player
9. Ronaldinho Two-times Fifa World Player of the Year now at AC Milan
10. Kaká Milan's Fifa World Player of the Year
11. Fernando Torres Liverpool striker who won Euro 2008 with Spain

How much is ADUG willing to pay for the superstars? Just look at the picture and it will tell you that their cash register is almost bottomless.

Will the respective football clubs' owners be able to reject such money? Will the owners cash in to such offers? With such transactions, it's more of buying instant success.

Valencia has mentioned today that if Manchester City was interested to snatch their David Villa, they have better be ready with £121 million to trigger the buy out clause. With this kind of money pouring into the football system, it will definitely trigger price inflation on football players. I would be sure that more multi-billionaires will be jumping into England to buy up the remaining English Premier League teams ....... to the extent that the Everton management team has voiced out for it. Big boys' toys????

Reading: Football and films fuel Abu Dhabi's brand building dream - Telegraph UK
Reading: Sheikh's £500m dream team - The Sun

Tags: Football, Soccer, Manchester, Manchester United, Manchester City, Sky Blues, England, Eastlands, Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi United Group For Development And Investment, ADUG, English Premier League, Mark Hughes, Thaksin Shinawatra, Roman Abramovich, City Dream Team, Sheikh