Question: It’s big news that catapults the value of City Football brute almost $5 billion bigger validation is that your strategy.
Answer: Thank you so much for allowing me on the show. It’s been a wonderful journey over the last 10-11 years, and I think this transaction is another testament to the journey… when he bought the club back in 2008, but with it with you that this is going to be a profitable, sustainable business. I think we’ve done that, over the last ten years we’ve shown that this thesis is accurate and it’s right. And I think this transaction is a further testament to this thesis.
Question: Tell me if you had conversations with other investors. What was it that led you to Silver Lake in particular and what, why are they the right fit.
Answer: Silver lake, I think, is a world-class investor we were delighted to have silver like part of the team here Silverlake is one of the global leaders in technology media sports and entertainment. We are investing in us And, you know, we’ve quickly through the conversations we’ve had over the last couple of months.
I think they had a lot of value to the group, and particularly as I look at the future and what we intend to do in the next ten years. I think Silverlake is the perfect fit. I think about what they want. With the type of investment that they’re viewing, City Football Group has proven to be again a very good fit for them, so I think a very nice.
Question: You’ve invested significantly over the past ten years both the squad and the infrastructure here at the banks the investment from Silverlight you’ve got another $500 million. How you going to spend it.
Answer: Well, we’ve been focusing over the last ten years with a clear business plan, a clear investment strategy. A clear, global strategy in terms of how we built up the group from one team in Manchester City to a group of clubs around the world, a world we are, I think leaders today in the, in the football business globally. All of these businesses are sustainable or profitable. I think Manchester City is now for five years. In profitability.
So I think the sustainable model that we’ve been working on has proven to be a success, and Silverlake sees that the investment, you know, this is $500 million that Silver Lake is putting into the group. We’re not taking any money out this investment money stays in the group stays as part of our growth strategy for the future. And we will continue down the route that we started ten years ago. And as we look at the next chapter in this evolution, which is the next ten years and this investment will help fuel that growth,
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Question: Going back to when you first started, you were famously described as the noisy neighbours of your rivals on the other side of the city. How is a big part of this investment from Silver Lake playing bridging the financial gap with Manchester United?
Answer: Manchester United is a very successful organization that has done that successfully. Over the years, I’d rather not talk about other teams and other organizations and just focus on what we do. I think what we’re doing is building a sustainable business that continues to grow continues to be successful, both on and off the pitch. And I look at what we’ve achieved over the last ten years as a benchmark to build on for the next ten years across the board in every single club that we have invested in this leadership
Question: You still have the desire to invest in progress, and if so, what’s a realistic target for Manchester City over the next say ten years?
Answer: I think this transaction is it as a testament to the appetite, that this group has about the future, when we, when we, when we bring in another half a billion dollars of investment into the group and when we commit to keep that investment, not take out any of that. I think that in itself tells you how we see investing and how we see the future. We see this as an attractive growing business to invest in. We’ve created the platforms for that. And I certainly I think can assure you that we are focusing on the future we’re focusing on growth and building on the strengths that we have that we’ve built over the years.
Question: a backdrop of an ongoing you a fair investigation. The allegations against you have been widely publicized. They are namely that you’ve circumvented financial fair play regulations. What do you say to those allegations?
Answer: I think our position on this has been, you know, it is very clear, and we’ve made it. I think explicit over the last couple of months. And given that there’s a process underway. It’s very important for me to respect that process. Therefore, I think it’s not appropriate for me to comment, other than we respecting the process, and we’re going through the steps. I understand you can’t get drawn on specifics, but I’m confident that the club will be cleared
my position has been consistent on this and on the record and clear.
Question: Okay, let’s get back to matters on the Patreon Sterling, he’s often spoken about now in the same breath as an elite band of footballers namely the likes of Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo. He signed a new contract last year, what can you do to ensure that Rahim is part of Manchester City’s long term future.
Answer: I’m very proud of what Rahim has done over the last couple of years his evolution as an as a player. But more importantly, as a person. I think it has been exceptional. He’s become a leader, both on and off the pitch. He’s become a leader in this squad, and Manchester City has been a is becoming leader that England, serving his country. And I think he’s been a leader in the community. So I’m, I’m so happy for him because I think he’s he’s a wonderful young man, young man, and I think he’s his talent. Listen, he, there’s one thing I’m sure of him is only going to improve and only going to grow as both a player and a and a leader. So, you know, the future is I think very bright for him, and it’s certainly a pleasure to have him part of our team.
Question: Let’s talk about that team for a minute you look set to progress, out of the group stages of the Champions League, you’re in another epic title race you concern this too much ground to make up on Liverpool Have you spoken to the players about it and if you have, is there a belief that they can retain the title again.
Answer: This team is a special team. I think what’s been accomplished over the last two seasons to be specific, is especially you know 198 points over two seasons. Back to Back Premier League titles for Pete. Last year, I mean, this isn’t really what’s been accomplished, you have to, you know, just hats off for everyone involved this, in this organization. And I think, you know, we’ve shown, time and time again. This team has shown that you cannot write them off. This is a committed team, a disciplined team, a hard-working team with an exceptional manager; I think in Pep, we have a leader. That is shown time and time again, his ability to continuously evolve and to continuously challenge. And we’ve been in this position, not once but many times before and we’ve shown the character. Always consistently to come back. So I think, you know, the Premier League is a, is a very very challenging week it’s why we all love this league, winning it for the last two seasons is, is one of the most challenging endeavors that on that one but any person in sports can do. So no doubt. I think the challenges there we’re up for it still a long way to go. We’re still in November, and we’ll see where we end up in May, but certainly, we’re up for it.
Question: It’s interesting Calvin hearing you speak about Pep hearing you know every, everyone at this club talking about him how central he is two things here. He led Barcelona for four years he was applying for three years he’s been a city for three years. How confident are you in his longevity if you had any guarantees that he’s going to be here for many years to come.
Answer: You know, it’s been an incredible asset to this organization, he’s, you know, we can speak about his managerial accomplishments for hours. But I think as a person as an individual as a, as a friend. He’s been. He’s been a core part of what we’ve accomplished over here over the last three years. He’s very committed. We’re committed to him you’ve seen his interviews, just a couple of days ago. We have a great relationship. We have a great environment here, the people around the team we have in place today. The relationships I have with him. You know this is a, an environment that is conducive for success for both him and, and everybody involved in this organization or so I’m very satisfied with the, with his commitment, and our commitment to him. And I’m looking forward to continuing with this for years to come.
Question: Let’s bring it back if we can to today’s news that the valuation now of City Football group is massive. How much are Pep Guardiola and his achievements at Manchester City, a part of that valuation?
Answer: Perhaps achievements. I think no doubt or integral is, and what we’ve accomplished over the last couple of years is remarkable. And that is, I think, an overwhelming influence for the whole group. But I think Pep will be the first one to say that this is a team effort. This is a wonderful organization. We have a group all over the world we have; we have 1500 players, plus all over the world part of this group, over 2000 employees globally. The play in we have our teams playing over 2500 games, every year. So this is a magnificent organization with people all over the world working together. Successful clubs from Manchester to New York to Melbourne to Yokohama, Japan to India, you know, India, obviously is another market that we’re looking at, talk about it in a second. So, you know this is a team effort. And that’s one of the things I’m most proud of that we have truly A team across the board, and that’s been reflected in this valuation, and reflected in how a World Cup, a world-class us investor is putting a $500 million dollars into this organization at evaluation, we’re talking about, that’s a testament to the strength and sustainability of this organization.
Question: And what’s next for the organization as we briefly touched on there’s been the talk of a club in India is that close to happening.
Answer: I mean, listen. We’ve looked when we look at growth, we look at three markets, three major markets, the United States, China and India, and we’ve invested obviously as you know in New York, and that’s a US presence in MLS we’ve invested in China, and certainly India is the next big market that we’d like to have a position and that’s been public. So I hope very soon we’ll be able to, to make our move into the market and continue our growth trajectory in the right markets globally. So potentially there could be other clubs on the horizon.
You know, you’ve seen what we’ve done over the last ten years you’ve seen how we’ve grown, I think we will continuously and look at the right opportunities and grow in the right way, and the sustainable way. And the profitable way for the group, Calvin. Thank you. Thank you very much.
