City Football Group have been linked with a surprise €90 million buyout of Colombian giants Millonarios, further strengthening the organisation's presence in South America.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
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Since the early days of the post-takeover era, Manchester City’s global footprint has extended far beyond what happens on the pitch in east Manchester.
Behind the scenes, City Football Group has steadily pieced together an unprecedented worldwide multi-club network spanning almost every populated continent, leveraging sister clubs to establish scouting hubs, share player development pipelines and dominate emerging markets.
In South America, that presence is already firmly anchored through Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay, Esporte Clube Bahia in Brazil, and an official institutional partnership with Bolivia’s Club Bolívar. However, one notable blind spot across the northern region of the continent has remained in Colombia.
Now, claims circulating in South America suggest the Blues’ ownership group could be exploring a marquee deal to rectify that and establish a direct presence in Bogotá.
Rumours Emerge Over €90M Millonarios Proposal
According to reports originating from Colombian platform El Futbolero, relayed by Sport Witness, City Football Group are considering acquiring a controlling stake in Millonarios F.C. The reports suggest that discussions point to a proposal worth roughly €90 million (£78.5 million) being tabled.
The eye-catching figure has sparked significant debate across Colombian media over what such a deal could mean for the historic club. Discussion has quickly turned toward the integration of Millonarios’ academy system into CFG’s global structure and how the club might fit into the wider CFG strategy.
However, a healthy dose of scepticism is required. Beyond the excitement generated in the local media, there is still no confirmation or verification that CFG have formalised any offer, let alone one climbing toward the €90 million threshold.
Manchester City are reportedly among a host of European clubs scouting River Plate goalkeeper Santiago Beltran, though the Argentine giants are expected to demand a high price for their prized young talent.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Send Scouts to Watch River Plate Goalkeeper on Cusp of €100M Valuation
Manchester City are reportedly among a host of European clubs scouting River Plate goalkeeper Santiago Beltran, though the Argentine giants are expected to demand a high price for their prized young talent.
A Club in Transition
What is not merely a rumour, however, is that Millonarios find themselves in the midst of an active ownership transition. Controlling shareholder Amber Capital, who manage the club through the publicly traded corporate vehicle Azul & Blanco S.A., have been openly entertaining external approaches.
The primary and far more concrete candidate to date is Kapital Football Group - which, interestingly, features former CFG Business Director Francisco Lopez. Lopez was heavily involved in the CFG acquisitions of New York City, Melbourne City, Girona and more.
Kapital’s long-term goal is essentially to construct a multi-club ecosystem modelled on City Football Group’s operational blueprint.
If CFG were genuinely exploring a deal for Millonarios, they would be contesting against a business built in their own image. On the other hand, Kapital's interest raises the possibility that the CFG rumour is manufactured to serve as a smokescreen of some sort.
Why Millonarios?
Even if the current claims ultimately lead to nothing, it's not hard to see the appeal Millonarios could hold for an organisation like City Football Group.
Millonarios represent one of South American football’s traditional powerhouses, combining an enormous, passionate fanbase with an academy structure that consistently churns out valuable talent. Based in the nation's capital, the club has won the top flight 16 times and has a stadium that seats just under 40,000 fans.
For CFG, establishing a formal base in Colombia would complete a dominant South American triangle alongside Bahia and Montevideo.