"The markets are getting crowded": what is known about the possible purchase of Spartak shares by the sheikhs who own Manchester City

On Tuesday evening, unexpected information appeared in the media that the sheikhs from the United Arab Emirates, who own Manchester City, were allegedly negotiating the purchase of about 20% of Spartak Moscow shares.

As it turned out later, City Football Group (CFG), which also owns shares in New York City (USA), Melbourne City (Australia), Mumbai City (India), Yokohama F. Marinos, is showing interest. ”(Japan),“ Montevideo City Torque ”(Uruguay),“ Girona ”(Spain),“ Sichuan Junu ”(China),“ Lommel ”(Belgium),“ Troyes ”(France) and“ Bolivar ”(Colombia).

According to sources, now there are three English representatives of the company in Moscow, who attended the match "Spartak" - "Rostov", and also examined the base and the office of the club.

It is reported that the other day the British managers held a series of meetings with the heads of various areas of the team.

On paper, both parties may be interested in concluding a deal: for City Football Group, this is a new market, and for Spartak, additional opportunities for sponsors and a single scout network.

In the camp of red and white, this information has not yet been confirmed.

The press service declined to comment on the news, and Kirill Kleymenov, a member of the Spartak board of directors, said that he had not heard anything like it.

“Contact the person from whom this information came.

I don’t know anything about it ”, - quotes the Sport24 functionary.

In turn, CFG Director of Football Communications Simon Heggie told Metaratings: "We do not comment on anyone's speculations and rumors."

Negotiated with Ufa and Khimki

Earlier, there were already reports about the interest of City Football Group in Russian clubs.

So, the general director of Khimki near Moscow, Sergei Anokhin, in an interview with Sport-Express in May, confirmed contacts with company representatives.

“They are looking closely through large binoculars.

They are not interested in us yet.

We have a closed market and no league capitalization.

What should be interesting for City Group?

Build your own oil rig?

You won't find players here either.

When players and infrastructure appear, then they will pay attention to us, ”he said.

The sheikhs also looked closely at "Ufa", but they could not agree on this.

According to the general director of the club, Shamil Gazizov, the negotiations at some point reached an impasse, since Ufa did not meet the wishes of potential buyers.

“The first of these is the start of construction of a large modern stadium.

On other issues, negotiations were underway, everything was fixable.

But the stadium was the main reason, because of it we could not continue negotiations, ”the functionary admitted.

There is also information that representatives of CFG communicated with Zenit and Sochi, but could not reach an agreement.

Many Russian experts do not believe that the Arab company will buy Spartak shares.

Former president of Lokomotiv Ilya Gerkus believes that they are not interested in the Russian market because of the weak economy.

“I think this is a fiction ... Firstly, our clubs have a very weak economy.

Further, they cannot easily move players: in our country, the Europeans are subject to the limit, in the EU, our players.

In addition, due to the fall in the UEFA rankings, we are limited to participation in the Champions League.

Well, 20% is some kind of frivolous participation.

I do not believe in the veracity of such intentions ", - quotes the functionary" Championship ".

Dmitry Svishchev, member of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs, also agree with this opinion.

According to him, the likely desire to sell the club does not mean that someone wants to buy it.

“It is unlikely that any of the Middle Eastern sheikhs will now be interested in Spartak or some other Russian club.

From a business point of view, this is ridiculous.

He's not here, it's politics or patronage.

Sponsoring beautiful girls is one situation, but the Spartak club ... I don’t see this in the football business for the next 10-15 years, ”Svishchev told Match TV.

A big plus for Russian football

On the other hand, some experts point out that if an Arab company really wants to enter the Russian market, Spartak is one of the most suitable options.

The team has all the infrastructure, and also retains a large number of fans.

As Nikolai Naumov, the former president of Lokomotiv, explained in a conversation with RT, these factors should become key in choosing an Arab company. 

“Sheikhs, when investing money, pay great attention to infrastructure, because if it is not there, you will have to spend too much. Therefore, they are attracted to "Spartak" - the team has an excellent stadium, base, academy. Of course, the sheikhs are better off investing here. Even Khimki is less attractive, although it is almost Moscow. I think they chose the red and white correctly. It is the most successful club in terms of infrastructure. There will be the least cost here. Why didn't you go to Spartak right away? I assume that they did not believe in Fedun's consent. Perhaps they still do not fully believe it. In addition, they could scare off the troubles that occur inside the club. Rumors that non-football people are interfering in management. All sorts of squabbles. Maybe that's the point. But I am sure they will figure it out, ”Naumov said.

At the same time, according to the functionary, one should not be surprised that the Arab company decided to invest in Russian football, since it operates not only in England, but also in other countries.

“The markets are filling up, they are getting crowded, and Russia has always been interesting.

We have great opportunities, huge territories, so the sheikhs are ready to give their all.

For them, football is a very interesting and beautiful toy.

But at the same time, they are waiting for the return of funds from the transfer market.

This is very good news for Spartak.

When someone from the outside invests in our football, it means that we have become an attractive market.

After these investments, the acquisition of stronger players than we have will begin.

And this is again a plus for Russia: then our youth, players will develop, ”Naumov said.

The owner of Spartak Leonid Fedun has repeatedly said that he is ready to sell the club, and in 2019 he even named the cost: € 1.1-1.2 billion. However, according to the former president of Lokomotiv, the businessman does not want to give up the controlling stake. 

“20% is a very decent amount to start with.

I think, more Fedun, most likely, will not agree to sell, because he wants to keep the controlling stake for himself.

And 20% is no less than $ 20 million a year, ”said Naumov. 

As the functionary notes, the possible cooperation with Manchester City will also be beneficial for Russian players, since the exchange of players can be established in the CFG club system. 

“An English club can promote its young footballers who are not yet in the base in Russia, sell them or lease them.

Which will also be quite good for our country.

On the other hand, "Spartak" has its own school, and I would direct the leadership of the red and white to speak with the sheikhs on this very topic.

It is important to see Russian youth, we have a very large storehouse of young football players who just need to be given a boost for development and be able to adapt to the conditions of big football, ”Naumov said.