Manchester City parent group City Football Group (CFG) have successfully completed the purchase of a major stake in La Liga side Girona.
The group – set up in 2008 when Sheikh Mansour purchased City – have bought a 44.3% stake in the Catalan outfit to formalise a long-running partnership between the clubs, with Media Base – owned by Pep Guardiola’s brother Pere – also involved.
Newly-promoted Girona have loaned five players from the English side this summer – Douglas Luiz, ‘Larry’ Kayode, Aleix Garcia, Marlos Moreno and Pablo Maffeo – in similar cases to previous seasons.
CFG already own New York City FC, Australian A-League side Melbourne City FC, Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos and Uruguayan outfit Club Atletico Torque, while they are also said to be considering a deal for Dutch side NAC Breda.
“Girona FC, City Football Group and Girona Football Group want to announce the signing of an agreement for the Girona-based club to be taken over by new owners,” read a Girona statement.
“The club has been acquired in equal parts by City Football Group and Girona Football Group, each owning 44.3 percent of the shares.”
Pere Guardiola added: “Together, we are confident that we will give the club the backing it seeks, whether the support comes in the form of executive, financial or leadership help.
“I'm convinced that our fans and our shareholders will find in this investment tangible benefits in the coming weeks, months and years.”
Image via Girona CF
