By AFPMore by this AuthorManchester City's owners City Football Group announced the purchase of Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu on Wednesday -- in partnership with a Chinese investment fund and a company that makes robots. The rare swoop for a Chinese team, after Sheffield United bought Chengdu Five Bulls in 2006, expands CFG's portfolio to seven clubs and follows the rapid growth of Chinese football in recent years. Investment fund China Sports Capital was jointly established by Sequoia China and Chinese state-linked CMC, which bought a 13 percent stake in CFG in 2015. CFG also owns New York City and Melbourne City football clubs, but chief executive Ferran Soriano said it had been a long-held "dream" to become part of China's growing football scene. Sichuan Jiuniu, its latest addition, are based in the western Chinese metropolis of Chengdu, and play their home games at the Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium.

Source: Daily Nation February 20, 2019 10:18 UTC