Manchester: Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership expanded their portfolio of global clubs on Wednesday by investing in Girona FC, who are playing in Spain’s top league for the first time this season.
City Football Group, of which English side Man City are the flagship team, announced they have bought a 44.3 per cent share in Girona following negotiations over the past year.
CFG already have partnership clubs in New York, Melbourne and Yokohama, Japan. The group completed the purchase of Uruguayan team Club Atletico Torque in May, when they also announced a “collaboration agreement” with Venezuelan team Atletico Venezuela.
Girona were promoted to La Liga at the end of last season, having previously reached the second-tier play-offs on three occasions in the previous four seasons.
Pere Guardiola, the brother of Man City manager Pep Guardiola, is the managing director of Girona Football Group, who have acquired an equal 44.3 per cent share in the Spanish club.
In a statement, CFG said the aim of the deal was to “stabilise and grow” Girona “into a well-established La Liga presence”.
City have loaned five players to Girona, who drew 2-2 against visiting Atletico Madrid in their top-flight debut on Saturday.
