The president of Brazil was informed of the interest in the meeting he had with Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, prince of Abu Dhabi and owner of Manchester City.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro affirmed this Friday that the Investors from the United Arab Emirates are interested in acquiring two Brazilian soccer clubs and even suggested that they consider Botafogo., one of the most traditional in the country and that this month guaranteed his return to the first division.
“The (investors from) Emirates they have twelve football clubs outside their country and they want two from Brazil. I am going to suggest that you opt for Botafogo, ”said the far-right leader in a live broadcast he did on social media when he returned to the country after his trip to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
According to versions of the Brazilian press, Bolsonaro was informed of the interest in the purchase of soccer teams in the meeting he had with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last Monday in the United Arab Emirates.
The prince himself owns Manchester City, one of the main English clubs, and controller, through the Abu Dhabi United Group, of other teams such as New York City (United States), Melbourne City (Australia), Montevideo City (Uruguay) and Mumbai City (India).
The head of state affirmed that the possible Arab investment in Brazilian football will be possible thanks to a law passed last August that establishes the rules for football clubs to become companies.
The deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of the president and who was part of the delegation that traveled to the Arab countries, stated that investors will initially probe the market and concrete buying possibilities, among which the club is constituted as a company, before defining the equipment they will buy.
“Who knows and we will not soon have a club bought by Arabs or sponsored by Arab companies,” said the deputy.
Bolsonaro also stated in his broadcast that during the trip he visited the Qatar stadium where the 2022 World Cup final will be played, where he spoke with the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, on the proposal for the World Cup to be played every two years and not every four.
He clarified that, contrary to what was reported by the press, he does not have a formed opinion on the matter but that he will respect what the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the country’s clubs decide.
“We spoke with the president of FIFA about that proposal but I am not the one who decides that. This is a decision of the CBF and the clubs. But they (FIFA) want the World Cup to be played every two years, ”he said.
“I am not going to give my opinion. It is not my area. But obviously I will support what the Brazilian clubs decide. You have to see the cost benefit for each country. You have to take into account the financial reasons, “he said. (D)
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