After a disappointing 10th-place finish in the 2008-2009 season, Manchester City flexed its financial muscle once again with the signing of such stars as Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry, and Carlos Tevez. In the summer of 2010, new manager Roberto Mancini shored up the team even more by signing Mario Balotelli, David Silva, and Jerome Boateng. His investment paid dividends: in the 2011-2012 season, Manchester City won its first English Premier League title since 1968.
In recent years, many of the top soccer clubs in Europe have come under the ownership of wealthy foreign investors. In 2008, the previously mid-table Manchester City Football Club was acquired by Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment in a deal worth some £200 million. Less than 24 hours after acquiring the club, the new Abu Dhabi-based owners acquired Brazilian superstar Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million, immediately transforming the club into a major international contender.
After a disappointing 10th-place finish in the 2008-2009 season, Manchester City flexed its financial muscle once again with the signing of such stars as Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry, and Carlos Tevez. In the summer of 2010, new manager Roberto Mancini shored up the team even more by signing Mario Balotelli, David Silva, and Jerome Boateng. His investment paid dividends: in the 2011-2012 season, Manchester City won its first English Premier League title since 1968. One of the most economically prosperous countries in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) works hard to promote security and stability in the region. The UAE belongs to the Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation panel that oversees joint projects in a wide range of areas. The UAE also belongs to international organizations such as the Arab Peace Initiative, the Arab League, the Arab Quartet, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
In order to ensure lasting security in the Gulf region, the UAE government opposes sectarian strife and terrorist activity in the Middle East. UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has decried the activity of extremists and terrorists in nearby Bahrain, which has significantly destabilized an otherwise peaceful and tolerant society. The UAE also supports the revival of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, as well as a stable and calm Egypt. When it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, the UAE supports the mission of the Group 5+1. |
AuthorDr. Shahram Shirkhani works on behalf of prominent multinational corporations and financial institutions in addition to private entities based in Iran and surrounding countries. Archives
February 2016
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