Kieran Maguire cites 'Kaoru Mitoma' as 'huge' Man City deal agreed
The reaction in Japan to Karou Mitoma's rise at Brighton illustrates the huge appetite for football in Asia - and Man City parent company City Football Group are right to capitalise on it.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the multi-club network's latest move in the region.
Sources told this site in December that City Football Group were close to agreeing a strategic partnership with Geylang International.
That deal, which will see City Football Group and the club collaborate on a number of different levels, was announced on Wednesday (1 February).
It is the network's first foray into the Asia-Pacific region, where Premier League football in particular is wildly popular.
Maguire cited the reaction to Mitoma, who has been one of the Premier League's top performers in his first full season at Brighton, as evidence for the
"This makes logical sense," he told Football Insider's Adam Williams.
"Asia is a huge market for football. There is a market for broadcast deals, commercial deals and fanbases.
"You only have to look at the reaction of Japanese fans to the rise of Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton to see that evidence.
"It, therefore, makes sense to have close links from a development perspective by having a satellite club in Asia.
"It is therefore no surprise to see that City Football Group are making inroads into that particular geographic region."