Kieran Maguire: Man United investors plotting to copy Man City as multiple takeovers on cards
Private equity firms are looking to launch a multi-club network with Man United at the helm in order to de-risk their mammoth investment.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the latest news in the Red Devils takeover saga.
The Times reported last Friday (23 December) that the investment firms eyeing a buyout of United want to create a multi-club model similar to that employed by Man City and Red Bull.
It is also understood that the same approach would be taken with Liverpool, who are also up for sale.
Maguire explained that spreading the risk across multiple clubs would give the prospective new United owners both a financial and sporting edge.
“As far as private equity groups are concerned, they are looking to de-risk,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If the mothership has a moderate year, the other clubs within the ownership model can hopefully have good seasons themselves. That helps to reduce risk.
“In addition, what the multi-club model can do is provide landing pads for talent. If you spot a player, you can take them somewhere else in Europe and earn governing body points to be able to eventually come to the UK.
“You can also set up development sports in South America and Asia and so on.
“If you have the same culture in terms of training, diet, nutrition, and technical and tactical instructions, a player can fit the bill far more easily when it comes to a transfer to the mothership.
“Again, that de-risks the investment from a success perspective. The player has less of a reset in terms of familiarising themselves with a new employer.“
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