A Chinese conglomerate is considering launching an ambitious €160m takeover bid for La Liga club Real Betis, according to reports in Spain.
A report from Canal Sur radio stated an unidentified consortium was weighing up the possibility of investing in the Seville-based club following a recent trip by chief executive Ramon Alarcon to the Far East in search of increased sponsorship deals.
However, any possible deal would be far from straightforward as over 30% of the shares held in Los Verdiblancos are owned by Farusa – a company under the control of controversial former Betis president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.
That company is currently under a judicial embargo due to alleged financial irregularities when the club were turned into a public limited company.
The Andalucians are one of a number of Spanish top flight clubs to have struggled financially in recent seasons due to lack of participation in European football and limited sponsorship deals, with many fans keen for increased investment in the first-team squad.
