PSG following Manchester City model: QSI adding clubs to portfolio

Several seasons ago, Manchester City decided to create the City Football Group, a parent company that began acquiring different clubs with the aim of promoting the development of young players and promoting the multi-ownership model. Red Bull, with Leipzig and Salzburg, was emulated by other companies that have invested heavily to maximise profits.

In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought PSG for €70m, bringing its current value to €4bn. Eleven years later, Qatar hosted the World Cup and has made an unprecedented investment that has made PSG the best team in France, but not in Europe. On Saturday, the Ligue 1 club will become the first team to win 11 league titles in France’s top flight, breaking the record held by Saint-Etienne (10).

A decade later, Qatar has decided to go one step further in its investment in football. Nasser Al Khelaïfi, president of PSG and someone very close to the Emir of the Arabian Peninsula, confirmed in November, in the middle of the World Cup, that he was initiating a phase of growth and was willing to welcome new investors into the club. Months earlier - QSI - the investment fund that owns PSG, obtained 21% of the shares in SC Braga to begin its expansion model.

Earlier this year, a new Qatari investment fund emerged as a candidate for the acquisition of Manchester United. Currently, its main rival is INEOS, the owner of OGC Nice, which has a slight advantage in the final stages of the negotiations. For several years, Qatar’s aim has been to expand and create a successful model like that of the City Football Group which, despite the relegation of Troyes, has been successful in practically most of the clubs in which it has invested.

Talks with Santos

In addition to PSG and Braga, QSI plans to submit a bid to buy more than 50 percent of Málaga, the Spanish club that was recently relegated to the third tier in Spain. According to Globo, negotiations for a stake in Brazilian outfit Santos have already begun. Aided by Neymar’s father, who is acting as an intermediary, the deal is in its initial phase, although talks are expected to intensify over the coming weeks.

The latest team QSI has turned its attention to in order to expand its investment portfolio is Sampdoria. The Italian giants - recently relegated to Serie B - are also the subject of interest from the owners of Leeds United. There is also the possibility of Qatar becoming a shareholder in the English club in order to have majority stakes in Sampdoria.

Sources close to Al Khelaïfi confirm to Diario AS that the new investments have nothing to do with reducing expenditure at PSG. A luxury sports complex will be opened in Yvelines this year, and the club have submitted its bid to acquire the Stade de France.