Manama: Qatari businessman Shaikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani is set to become the first foreign owner of a Primera Liga football club.
Shaikh Abdullah, chairman of Nasser Bin Abdullah and Sons Group, will announce the details of the purchase of Spanish outfit Malaga CF, rumoured to be about 25 million euros, at a press conference.
He will have 100 per cent ownership of the club, Qatari daily The Peninsula reported Tuesday. Spain, like Italy and England, has no rules preventing foreign citizens from owning clubs.
The press conference will be attended by Fernando Sanz, the current club president, and his father Lorenzo Sanz, former Real Madrid president.
In 2006, Sanz Sr bought a 97 per cent stake in the club and then appointed his son Fernando, former captain of the team, as club president. The club also has its own reserve team, Atletico Malagueno.
Shaikh Abdullah is also expected to name the coach and his plans to bring in players like Rangers star Madjid Bougherra.
Malaga, established in 1948, finished 17th in the 2009-10 La Liga season, barely avoiding relegation. Last year they finished eighth.
