Multi-club ownership has become a hot topic in the world of football, with more and more teams seemingly finding themselves under the same umbrella as others.
Perhaps the most wide-reaching and successful ownership project in football right now is the City Football Group, of which English giants Manchester City are the flagship side.
It's a modern football invention that angers many supporters and leaves a sour taste in the mouth, while some see it as simply the future of an ever-evolving sport.
City Football Group are not the only multi-club project out there, but here's all you need to know about what it is and the teams currently part of it.
City Football Group (CFG) was established back in 2013 and has grown rapidly ever since. According to their official website, it is: «The owner of football-related businesses in major cities around the world, including football clubs, academies, technical support and marketing companies.»
They state their ambition is to: «Increase participation in football on and off the field, to find and develop the best footballing talent, and to deliver an exciting and forward playing game.»
The real beginnings of City Football Group can be traced back to Sheikh Mansour's purchase of Man City back in 2008 via his Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment vehicle. City Football Group was then created in 2013 when they acquired New York City Football Club. Since 2021, via Newton Investment and Development, Mansour owns 81% of the group, with the US private equity company Silver Lake holding 18.16% (and China Media Capital and CITIC Capital the remainder). Mansour is still the majority owner of Man City.
The reason a setup like CFG concerns many in the sport, especially from a romantic
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