Manchester City Season 2008/9

[johntheclaret]

I know this isn't a new story but I thought it deserves a topic of it's own

Manchester City are to be taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG). The deal has been agreed between City's owner Thaksin Shinawatra and group representative Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, chief executive of Hydra Properties.

Dr Khalid Kadfour Al-Muhairy, the head of the Emirates Group for advocate and legal consultants has also been involved in the negotiations. No financial details were revealed in the statement, which was released by Samir Al-Neel, media and public relations manager at Hydra Properties.

"The investment services and development in Abu Dhabi, has successfully completed the huge takeover of the English club (Manchester City), one of the most prominent and oldest English clubs," the statement read.

And a statement on City's official website read: "Manchester City can confirm that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) and Manchester City Football Club. "A period of due diligence for all parties, including the FA Premier League has now been entered. A further statement will be released by the club in due course."

The statement added that Shinawatra will retain a role as "honorary president of the club without any administrative responsibilities". The former Thai prime minister has been looking for new investment in the club, despite taking charge just over 12 months ago.

The statement from Hydra added that the deal was signed at Abu Dhabi Emirates Palace Hotel, and the deal was considered a "massive achievement for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi". The statement also said that Al-Fahim had pledged to "solve all the club problems and clear any pending payments, and will comprehensively support the club by bringing the best football players in the world" to Eastlands.

Success in the Premier League, but also "European and world level" would be the aim, with "the qualification of Manchester City to the European Champions League (for) next season 2009-10" also highlighted in the statement. Al-Fahim added: "We will adopt marketing plans that reflect positively on the club and the company."

They seem to be sticking to their word.

Bids for
Berbatov (accepted by Spurs although he will sign for Utd tonight) £30m
Robinho (News from Spain , it's a done deal) £32m
Villa and Gomez (again , all but done) £36m

Total value of bids today £98m

Perhaps the balance of power has shifted from Red to Blue ?? Mark Hughes has really landed on his feet here

[devilsadvocate]

I'm dumbfounded by all this. When I saw the Berbatov bid story I thought the Beeb had stuffed up their story, then out came the Robinho, then Villa et al stories.



How pissed off must Liverpool fans be. They are the real losers here after they missed out on being taken over last term. Think what a hundred mill would do for Liverpool. Think what a hundred mill would do for Hull!!!

On their bids...part of me would love to see Berba at Citeh, just to have the satisfaction of knowing how pissed off old red nose would be. the other part thinks it sucks because Spurs will be directly competing with Citeh for 5th (if we learn to play football that is).

If they get David Villa I will be majorly, majorly pissed off after he refused to come to Spurs.

Why would anyone want to go to Citeh?

Oh that's right, they've just struck oil. Bastards.

[JK]

How pissed off must Liverpool fans be. They are the real losers here after they missed out on being taken over last term. Think what a hundred mill would do for Liverpool. Think what a hundred mill would do for Hull!!!

I think I can explain that rather well, but as a Mod I have a duty not to get myself banned!

[RoosterMarty]

They have now signed Robinho and tripled his wage. Considering he was at Real that is no mean feat.

Berbs is a Red now though

[smithy]

I'm pretty sure that the company that bought man City.....Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) is totally different from the group that are interested in purchasing Liverpool, Dubai International Capital (DIC).

Whilst they have the same spokesperson, Amanda Staveley, I'm quite sure that this doesn't jeapordise any future purchase of the yanks.

[JK]

I'm pretty sure that the company that bought man City.....Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) is totally different from the group that are interested in purchasing Liverpool, Dubai International Capital (DIC).

Whilst they have the same spokesperson, Amanda Staveley, I'm quite sure that this doesn't jeapordise any future purchase of the yanks.

*phew* ... After further investigation, I was starting to wonder if that was the case, cheers for that Smithy as that's about our only real hope.

With new stadium construction deferred AGAIN (now 18 months since the Yanks promised commencement within "weeks") due to Hicks and Gillette being unable to secure the financing, I wonder if they won't hold off for another 12 months and then have a forced sale on their hands?

[johntheclaret]

Today the new owners of Man City have said on tv that they intend to offer £135m (yes one hundred and thirtyfive million pounds) for Ronaldo in January.

They also said they intend to bring Torres and Fabregas to City whatever the cost.

Interesting times ahead.

[devilsadvocate]

Today the new owners of Man City have said on tv that they intend to offer £135m (yes one hundred and thirtyfive million pounds) for Ronaldo in January.

They also said they intend to bring Torres and Fabregas to City whatever the cost.

Interesting times ahead.

OMFG Are you serious?!!!

I saw in the paper today the owner (the prince or whatever) said that when he has an idea, he follows it through to completion and nothing gets in his way. His analogy was that he's like a tractor and when something gets in his path he crushes it and moves forward.

In the same paper, Chelsea had the nerve to say that the purchase of Robinho was outrageous and criticised such huge bids being made for players. I recall something about a pot and a kettle...

This Man Citeh thing is going to ruin football. The Spurs forum was going NUTS today about getting current owners out and finding a rich Russian/Arabic to takeover. FFS it's football, not a tech-stock boom

The only winners out of all of this will be the players who are already paid bloody stupid amounts. More ridiculous haircuts, floosies with breast implants, Ferrari's and Lamborghini's, gambling, tattoos, and bling.

I guess a positive is that it'll help push the pound back up given its recent plummet.

[johntheclaret]

Today the new owners of Man City have said on tv that they intend to offer £135m (yes one hundred and thirtyfive million pounds) for Ronaldo in January.

They also said they intend to bring Torres and Fabregas to City whatever the cost.

Interesting times ahead.

OMFG Are you serious?!!!

I saw in the paper today the owner (the prince or whatever) said that when he has an idea, he follows it through to completion and nothing gets in his way. His analogy was that he's like a tractor and when something gets in his path he crushes it and moves forward.

In the same paper, Chelsea had the nerve to say that the purchase of Robinho was outrageous and criticised such huge bids being made for players. I recall something about a pot and a kettle...

This Man Citeh thing is going to ruin football. The Spurs forum was going NUTS today about getting current owners out and finding a rich Russian/Arabic to takeover. FFS it's football, not a tech-stock boom

The only winners out of all of this will be the players who are already paid bloody stupid amounts. More ridiculous haircuts, floosies with breast implants, Ferrari's and Lamborghini's, gambling, tattoos, and bling.

I guess a positive is that it'll help push the pound back up given its recent plummet.

Don't remind me. $usd at $1.76 and €euro at €1.21. I buy from China so it is killing me. 3 /4 months ago $2.01 €1.45. Today $51,000 just cost me £28,000. Crazy times mate

[JK]

Today the new owners of Man City have said on tv that they intend to offer £135m (yes one hundred and thirtyfive million pounds) for Ronaldo in January.

They also said they intend to bring Torres and Fabregas to City whatever the cost.

Interesting times ahead.

Well if they throw a stupid offer Liverpool's way it will be bye bye Fernando with the Yank owners looking for every penny they can get ... If it were to happen I seriously don't think we'd see them back at Anfield again for genuine fear of their lives.

[RoosterMarty]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

[JK]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

That was my first thought, but they did put a 100mil valuation on him this year to a) ward off anyone targetting him and b) ensuring that scored a bootload if he did want to go elsewhere.

I agree that I don't think he'll go to city, but it will help push his price up with Real

[RoosterMarty]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

That was my first thought, but they did put a 100mil valuation on him this year to a) ward off anyone targetting him and b) ensuring that scored a bootload if he did want to go elsewhere.

I agree that I don't think he'll go to city, but it will help push his price up with Real

Yep we should get a lot more when he goes to Real, that can only be a good thing.

[Bully]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

That was my first thought, but they did put a 100mil valuation on him this year to a) ward off anyone targetting him and b) ensuring that scored a bootload if he did want to go elsewhere.

I agree that I don't think he'll go to city, but it will help push his price up with Real

Yep we should get a lot more when he goes to Real, that can only be a good thing.

im sure with the right amount then he would move from the red side to the blue

[RoosterMarty]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

That was my first thought, but they did put a 100mil valuation on him this year to a) ward off anyone targetting him and b) ensuring that scored a bootload if he did want to go elsewhere.

I agree that I don't think he'll go to city, but it will help push his price up with Real

Yep we should get a lot more when he goes to Real, that can only be a good thing.

im sure with the right amount then he would move from the red side to the blue

United didn't sell him to Real Madrid for a large amount of money, there is absolutely no way they would sell him to Man City.

So I'm guessing if a large consortium took Spurs over, Cesc would be the first player bought?

[JK]

I reckon with another year of contract gone, if Ron wanted to move badly enough, Man U would oblige provided they get fair recompense for him.

However if for example Real offered $110m as opposed to City's $135m, I reckon they'd ship him off to Spain still through principle alone, and not having him stand in their way of EPL aspirations.

[RoosterMarty]

I reckon with another year of contract gone, if Ron wanted to move badly enough, Man U would oblige provided they get fair recompense for him.

However if for example Real offered $110m as opposed to City's $135m, I reckon they'd ship him off to Spain still through principle alone, and not having him stand in their way of EPL aspirations.

Yep exactly. He will go to Real eventually...

It's like Robinho.

Real rejected Chelsea's offer as they are European rivals but they were happy to sell him to City who are not competing for the same prize (yet).

[johntheclaret]

Today the new owners of Man City have said on tv that they intend to offer £135m (yes one hundred and thirtyfive million pounds) for Ronaldo in January.

They also said they intend to bring Torres and Fabregas to City whatever the cost.

Interesting times ahead.

Well if they throw a stupid offer Liverpool's way it will be bye bye Fernando with the Yank owners looking for every penny they can get ... If it were to happen I seriously don't think we'd see them back at Anfield again for genuine fear of their lives.

Annouinced today that Man City actually bid £50m ($85m) for Torres on transfer deadline day but Liverpool rejected the offer.

Wait until January C-P. Man City will be bidding more than £500m for new players and in perspective, it represents a drop in the pool for them

Here are the wealthiest owners in the EPL

ABu Dhabi Group worth £550 billion (five hundred and fifty billion pounds or 900 billion dollars)
Abramovich £11.6 billion
Glaziers £1.4 billion
Hicks and co £1.1 billion

[johntheclaret]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

They might not have a choice Marty. Depends on what is on the table for Ronaldo. He will end up doinig to Utd, what Berbatov did to Spurs and Robinho did to Real

[johntheclaret]

Good luck in trying to get Ronaldo, there is absolutely no way United would sell him to City!

They might not have a choice Marty. Depends on what is on the table for Ronaldo. He will end up doinig to Utd, what Berbatov did to Spurs and Robinho did to Real

Sorry to quote me sen, but remeber, none of these money grabbing stooges give one sh1t about the club they play for, only the $$ they can get. Even if they don't need the money., they are greedy little f$%kers. And imo Ronaldo is no different.

Sad thing is, it's clubs like Man U that f£$ked up the EPL in the 1st place.