Liverpool, PSG Owners Competing for Control of Spanish Second-Division Club With Potential | OneFootball

Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain were facing off in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, with the capital club advancing past the Reds. Now, the owners of these two clubs are reportedly facing off in another competition.

Qatar Sports Investment has PSG as its crown jewel but has made minor investments in other clubs, such as S.C. Braga, and could now look to invest in another club, this time as a majority owner.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, owns teams in other sports, such as the Boston Red Sox in MLB. Now, they could be looking at buying another football club.

QSI and FSG battle for Spanish club in second division

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

GIVE ME SPORT’s Ben Jacobs reported on Saturday, citing sources, that FSG is exploring the possibility of acquiring a 51 percent stake in Malaga CF from the club’s current majority owner, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al-Thani.

However, they face competition from QSI, the owners of PSG, who are also looking to buy Al-Thani’s 51 percent stake, along with the remaining 49 percent owned by Spanish hotel and real estate group BlueBay.

Málaga’s financial situation complicates any takeover, as the Segunda División club is currently in administration and under judicial control. While QSI has a strong relationship with Al-Thani, any sale would need approval from the court-appointed officials or would need to wait until judicial control is lifted.

No group has secured exclusivity yet, but QSI is conducting due diligence to determine its final valuation of the club. Málaga could be valued as high as €100 million (£83.6 million), according to GiveMeSport, but that figure is not set in stone. The final price will likely depend on Málaga’s potential return to LaLiga, as they currently sit 15th.

FSG and QSI believe they can help rebuild the club and restore it to European competition. Málaga reached the Champions League quarterfinals in 2012-13 but was relegated from LaLiga in 2018.

The club’s rich history and its 30,000-capacity La Rosaleda stadium—set to be a host venue for the 2030 World Cup—make Málaga an appealing investment. QSI also sees significant potential in the club’s academy.