
SHANGHAI (AFP) - Manchester City's owners City Football Group (CFG) announced the purchase of Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu on Wednesday (Feb 20) - in partnership with a Chinese investment fund and a company that makes robots.
The rare swoop for a Chinese team, after Sheffield United bought Chengdu Five Bulls in 2006, expands CFG's portfolio to seven clubs and follows the rapid growth of Chinese football in recent years.
Few details were revealed about the deal, which partners Abu Dhabi-owned CFG with China Sports Capital and UBTECH, a Chinese artificial intelligence and humanoid robotic company.
Investment fund China Sports Capital was jointly established by Sequoia China and Chinese state-linked CMC, which bought a 13 per cent stake in CFG in 2015.
CFG also owns New York City and Melbourne City football clubs, but chief executive Ferran Soriano said it had been a long-held "dream" to become part of China's growing football scene.
"We want to be part of the initiative... even just a small part," he told a press conference in Chengdu.
"We will be patient. We are here for the long-term."
CFG is also the owner of Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay, and has stakes in Spanish LaLiga outfit Girona FC and Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan's J-League.
Sichuan Jiuniu, its latest addition, are based in the western Chinese metropolis of Chengdu, and play their home games at the Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium.
Chinese football was buoyed by an influx of funds and foreign stars after President Xi Jinping, who visited Manchester City in 2015, outlined ambitions to turn the world's most populous nation into a global football power.
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning
The Real Madrid defender believes the team is bigger than the now Juventus forward, and his departure will not stop them from getting new trophies. In an article published by Sportskeeda, Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has said that even without Cristiano Ronaldo, the team will keep on winning. "You had to dig a little deeper.
Even Without Ronaldo, Real Madrid Remain - deadspin.com
Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title advantage Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denied on Friday that his Premier League leaders will have the upper hand over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the title race despite a lighter schedule after crashing out of both domestic cup competitions.
Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title advantage
REIMS, France (Reuters) - Ada Hegerberg was not needed as Norway kicked off their women's World Cup Group A campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday
Soccer: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria | News
Just the first step: Klopp. Defender Virgil van Dijk (left), PFA Player of the Year, getting a pat from Golden Glove winner Alisson after Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield yesterday. There were
Klopp: This is just the first step | PeopleNet TV
peoplenetv.com/klopp-this-is-just-the-first-step/
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp says that this season is the first step for his squad in their journey after they finished second in the Premier League . Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's record-breaking season is just the "first step" for his team after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City.
Klopp: This is just the first step - Jersey Peeps Social Network
Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday. Schalke are winless in their last three
Football: 10-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash
Football: Five games that tipped the scales in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's favour for the United job LONDON (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been rewarded by Manchester United for engineering a remarkable turnaround in the club's fortunes since he took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in December .
Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named permanent Manchester
Fastest Bite in the Animal Kingdom? - YouTube
Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Sassuolo forward Kevin-Prince Boateng on a six-month loan deal with an €8 million Barcelona set to complete shock Boateng loan move. Trending News.
Champions League: Juventus achieved their objective, despite everything going wrong, says Allegri | Goal.com Massimiliano Allegri felt everything seemed to go against Juventus as they lost 2-1 to
Juventus achieved their objective, despite everything going
It has been announced that the Tottenham Hotspur First Team squad will travel to Singapore and Shanghai as part of their pre-season tour in July in preparation for the 2019/20 season. The 2019 pre
Spurs to visit Singapore, Shanghai in July, Latest Football
Substitute Andre Gray scored a second-half winner as Watford beat Marco Silva's Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to heap the pressure on their former manager. Gray strikes to sink
Football: Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile
Subscribe to our channel: