Football fans in India have long wondered about the possibility of having the quality and amazement of European Leagues. Even though the destination seems far off, the journey has begun. Manchester City FC owners, City Football Group, has recently agreed to acquire 65% stake in Mumbai City FC of the Indian Super League making it their eighth club internationally.
What does the deal mean for Mumbai City and what does it mean for Indian Football?
Let's try and find out.
The completion of the investment remains subject to the approval of certain football bodies but as per the deal, the remaining 35% shares will be held jointly by Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh. CFG is the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs with Manchester City being the most popular among its roster and the reigning champions of the Premier League.
The news of the acquisition was revealed in front of Mumbai City’s fans by CFG CEO Ferran Soriano with the chairperson of FSDL Nita Ambani. He said-
“We have been looking at this for years. I came myself and watched many games and we are now convinced of the bright future of football in India. I am sure 10 years from now, we will be here and we will be talking about a lot of people playing good football for India,”
Nita Ambani welcoming the CFG’s move to India spoke about the association-
"Today we welcome a global football powerhouse to India, to Indian Super League and Indian football. I am delighted and proud to announce that the City Football Group has acquired a majority stake in Mumbai City FC.I am sure Mumbai City FC and Indian Football will benefit from this historic partnership,"
Although, the entry of European Clubs into Indian clubs is not new; Atletico Madrid owned ATK partly while Fiorentina held 15% stake in the now obsolete FC Pune city, this is the first time a big club holder will hold the majority stake in an Indian club.
The numbers and the brand name is, of course, a big selling point. The fans of Mumbai City and Indian football are thrilled to hear this news. Social media platforms buzzed with excitement upon hearing this announcement.
Despite the excitement and the euphoria what needs to be focussed upon is what does this deal mean for Indian Football in the near and far future?
Speaking on this Amrinder Singh, Mumbai City’s Goalkeeper was hopeful when he said-
“I feel this is a momentous deal. This is indeed a great moment for football in India and all the young players who are emerging to play the sport. We have seen in the last four or five years how rapid the progress has been in Indian football after the emergence of the ISL. I believe City Football Group coming to India can only take football forward in our country,”
Soriano also mentioned that the priority is to find kids early. Citing the example of their New York City Club, he said that they are not here to import anything. The main aim is to tap into Indian football by providing the expertise and the experience they bring with them.
That can translate into Mumbai City and India getting better infrastructure and facilities to train and play in. It will also be a great learning experience for Indian Football bodies on how to maximise the potential of local talent. For the AIFF this could be a great opportunity to tie hands with one of the best in the world to uplift the level of football in India.
CFG has some of the best assessors and coaches of the game. Their roster contains some of the biggest players and experts of the game such as Pep Guardiola. Their experience, strategy and tactics is a great pool to tap into. This association could lead to better training and understanding of the sport. Indian players might get the chance to go overseas and train with the other clubs of CFG which will be a great boost to Indian Football.
Financially, it opens up the door for bigger investors to come in given they follow suit of CFG. Such an investment is bound to bring more eyeballs to Indian Super League not just in India but also worldwide.
If the CFG delivers what they have promised, this could be huge for Indian Football. Although, there is always a fear among domestic players and fans alike of monopoly by an international investor which might hold back the progress of the local talent although it may bring in more money. However, if we look at their other clubs, the focus seems to be on youth development, which is what India needs.
In summary, this might focus the attention of Indian masses on a sport that is missing from the spotlight. With the local talent and international standard training, this can help bring change from the policy side inspiring local and national government bodies to direct their attention to football.
What the Indian media, fans and the athletes need to take away from this deal is that Indian Football is starting to get noticed in the international eyes. It also proves that a venture like ISL has been pretty successful This move if used wisely, could potentially push us higher in the other international competitions. This deal is a recognition of the Indian potential for better footballers and a better footballing nation altogether. And we need to welcome this change and make the best of this opportunity if we wish to be a footballing nation at the world level.