September 16th 2024.
Manchester City is widely known as one of the wealthiest football clubs in the world. This reputation has been cemented in recent years, thanks to the success they have achieved under their new owners who took over 16 years ago. It's no secret that the club's financial backing has played a huge role in attracting some of the biggest names in the sport to join the blue side of Manchester.
However, amidst their unparalleled achievements in recent years, a dark cloud looms over the club as they face allegations of violating financial fair play regulations. The highly publicized "Trial of the Century" is currently underway in an undisclosed location and is expected to last for ten weeks. If found guilty, Manchester City could face severe sanctions, including hefty fines, points deductions, or even relegation from the Premier League.
But who exactly owns Manchester City, and how much have they invested in the club? Let's take a closer look at the Abu Dhabi United Group, the investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour, who is also the top man at the Etihad. In 2008, the group purchased the club for a whopping £200 million from Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand. After the acquisition, Sheikh Mansour handed over the reins of the club to Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the City Football Group (CFG), which serves as City's parent company and also has stakes in various other clubs around the world.
Sheikh Mansour is a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and currently serves as the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. His brother, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the president of the UAE. According to reports, Manchester City's owners have a net worth of approximately £16.8 billion, making them the second richest club in the world, behind Newcastle United, whose majority owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, are thought to be worth around £320 billion.
Since their takeover, Manchester City has spent a staggering £1.6 billion on new signings, with the most significant expenditure being the £100 million splurge on Jack Grealish in August 2021, which at the time, was the most substantial transfer fee in British football history. Their first signing under the new owners was Robinho, who joined the club from Real Madrid for a then-British record fee of £32.5 million, just hours after the takeover was completed. While City's spending has been relatively restrained in recent years, with a net spend of around -£140 million in the last five seasons, they still rank 11th on the list of Premier League clubs during that period.
But the most remarkable feat achieved by Manchester City under their owners' reign is their trophy haul. Since the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover, the club has won a total of 24 trophies, making them the most successful English team during that period. This includes eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, and four Community Shields. Their crowning glory came in 2023 when they won the Champions League, followed by the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Prior to the takeover, City had only 12 honours to their name, with their last trophy coming in 1976 with the League Cup.
It's clear that Manchester City's owners have made a significant impact on the club's success, both on and off the pitch. But with the ongoing trial casting a shadow over their achievements, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the blue side of Manchester. What are your thoughts on Manchester City's ownership and their success in recent years? Share your views in the comments below.
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