Stefan Borson drops Sheikh Mansour claim after Donald Trump encounter
Manchester City’s majority owner Sheikh Mansour has backed the club heavily since completing his takeover in 2008.
Man City’s value has increased dramatically over the years, with various analysts now valuing the club at more than £4billion.
While it is widely known the vice president of the United Arab Emirates is a wealthy man, that was highlighted last week in Mansour’s encounter with US president Donald Trump.
The duo crossed paths at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt on 13 October, where they exchanged a handshake and posed for photos in front of the media.
During the encounter, Trump said: “A lot of cash, unlimited cash. And he’s a good man, too.”
Sheikh Mansour has ‘very deep pockets’ after Man City investment
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the UAE has “very deep pockets” following Trump’s admission.
The Abu Dhabi United Group, which is owned by Mansour, purchased the Manchester giants for around £200million following the takeover 17 years ago.
Pep Guardiola’s side form part of the City Football Group (CFG), which was created in 2013 to build a multi-club organisation, with 12 more teams added to the portfolio alongside the Premier League club.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Mansour’s interaction with Trump, Borson said: “I don’t think the first bit is kind of in question. I think we all know that the UAE has got very deep pockets.
“But I think the other side of it is interesting in terms of just where Sheikh Mansour and some of the other players around the Premier League now where they sit on a global basis. It’s not just Sheikh Mansour. You’ve got obviously the Saudis.
“You’ve got as part of the deal that was done recently with Jared Kushner, who obviously is also centrally involved in that piece of it. You’ve got him partnering with PIF on one side, Newcastle’s owners, and then on the other side, Silver Lake, in buying EA in the largest leveraged buyout ever.
“These interconnected relationships do reinforce the presence of the Premier League. Then of course, who walks in at the end of the Gaza Peace Summit is Infantino, just putting himself absolutely central to the sort of global move for peace.”
Mansour is estimated to be worth around £17bn, while his family’s wealth is understood to be well in excess of £200bn.
Premier League emerging as ‘major brand’ after Mansour reveal
Borson believes the Premier League is now a major brand on the global stage due to the people involved in the clubs.
“It’s a strange world on the one hand, but it’s interesting that you’ve now got this coming together of all those different worlds,” said Borson.
“I think it just reinforces the presence of the Premier League as a major brand within all of these players. Likewise, in all of these countries that were there.
“You’re in Egypt, and football’s massive in Egypt. But as I say, even Infantino’s there as well. It doesn’t get more notable than that.
“The head of FIFA is effectively a kind of international statesman these days.”
In terms of the ownership structure at the Etihad Stadium, Sheikh Mansour now owns more than 80 per cent of Man City following a £420m injection last year.
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