January 12 – La Liga’s Granada has become the latest Spanish club rumoured to be the focus of Chinese investment interest. While back in China, Super League club FC Shijiazhuang Ever Bright has reportedly sold 50% to investment group Hebei Hongsong.
PPTV Sports, the sports unit of leading Chinese online streaming company PPTV backed by e-commerce giant Suning, has reportedly made a bid for Spanish La Liga side Granada following a breakdown in takeover talks with Malaga.
The Málaga deal looked almost done with PPTV expected to pay €60 million for the club, however negotiations with Malaga broke down apparently over the amount of debt the club would take on with the acquisition – Malaga have struggled to balance their books and wanted to leave the debt with the club on sale.
PPTV are then rumoured to have looked at Espanyol before turning to Granada which is expected to cost a much more conservative €40 million. Italian owner Gino Pozzo has turned down the first offer from the Chinese.
PPTV owns the broadcast rights to La Liga in China and is a credible investor in terms of having the money to buy, and seemingly has a determination to buy a position in Spanish club football – at the right price.
New energy in Chinese Super League ownership
FC Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, which was rumoured to be in negotiation over a transfer of league license and relocation deal, has instead reportedly sold a 50% stake to Hebei Hongsong, an investment company that focuses on new energy.
Official enterprise credit information shows that the registered capital of the club is RMB 30 million with its two stakeholders, Hebei Hongsong and Ever Bright Land, both owning a 50% stake.
Ever Bright was the only team without sponsorship during the 2015 Chinese Super League Season. Li Qiang, president of the club, had previously told reporters that they had attractive offers that invited the team to move away. However, they preferred to stay in Shijiazhuang.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735208806labto1735208806ofdlr1735208806owedi1735208806sni@n1735208806osloh1735208806cin.l1735208806uap1735208806
