As anybody who cares about football in India would already know, the City Football Group (CFG) is here. Before we get carried away by the enormity of that development, we need to ask ourselves: What will this do for Indian football?
For the uninitiated: the CFG's entry into India is big news. But why? It is the most valuable football group in the world at an estimated worth of $4.8 billion. In terms of business, the entry into India may be good news for them considering the potential (read population) of the market. But, it is also good for the exposure that Indian football desperately needs. After all, it is the second biggest 'deal' in the history of the game in India. The biggest, of course, is the Indian Super League (thank you Reliance). But, the CFG acquiring a majority stake (65 per cent) in the ISL's Mumbai City FC is certainly the best thing that has ever happened to the floundering league.
Rumours of the CFG being interested in the Indian market have been around for more than a year. At first, it was said they were looking at the Kerala Blasters because of their huge fan base. Soon, Mumbai City's name was heard. Simply put, Kochi is not Mumbai. The Maximum City has recall value around the globe. And a club in India's financial capital is a nice addition to the CFG's portfolio of majority owned and operated clubs—Manchester City FC, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC.
The other clubs which CFG has invested in are Girona FC from Spain, Yokohama F. Marinos from Japan, Club Atletico Torque from Uruguay and Sichuan Jiuniu from China. All these clubs have benefited massively from the CFG's inputs in training methods, medical care and sports science, among other things, with Atletico Torque winning promotion to the Uruguayan top division for the first time within 12 months of CFG's investment. Another major positive is the opportunity to loan in promising young players from bigger clubs in the group, prominent among them English champions Manchester City. Spanish midfielder Aleix Garcia's loan deal from Manchester City to Girona is a case in point.
In England, CFG, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Abu Dhabi United Group (87 per cent) and the China Media Capital Consortium, has not only transformed Manchester City into serial winners, but has also overseen the development of a sustainable model, including a youth programme that has produced the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, and world class infrastructure. This is what India needs the most from CFG. The group has already announced that Pep Guardiola would be working with Mumbai coach Jorge Costa. While that is most welcome, know-how alone is not going to help. India badly needs an enabling football ecosystem. But before any of that, there needs to be more interest in the "beautiful game".
In the cricket-dominated scenario, football, or any other sport for that matter, will find little room to thrive. Indian football has remained relevant only because of the commitment of players and the passion of a small group of fans. The model the CFG has successfully implemented in its other markets will be difficult to execute in India owing to the lack of a sporting culture. What it needs to do first is create a connect with the people of Mumbai. That is easier said than done. But, winning the ISL would be a good start. Mumbai City is currently in seventh position and getting to the play-offs this season is absolutely vital for the new ownership. That would give them a platform to start building from. Community engagement is another crucial factor.
Money is going to be key. Manchester City has been criticised, especially by disgruntled fans of traditionally bigger teams, for "buying success". But, the fact remains that merely having money is not enough. Spending it smartly is more important. This is perfectly illustrated by the recent struggles of Manchester United, City's illustrious neighbour and the world's richest football club. Mumbai City needs money to capture the market. But, it also needs to depart from the ISL's transfer standards, that is bringing in big names who are past their prime. A better model for India would be to sign younger players from lesser known teams. Mumbai City should also look to bring in players on loan from the group. But, it would be unrealistic to expect Foden to come and play in India, even for a short stint. Looking at players from Atletico Torque, Melbourne, New York, Yokohama and even Girona would be a more feasible option.
As far as a marquee signing goes, at the risk of sounding contradictory, Zlatan Ibrahimovic fits the bill perfectly. Yes, he is 38 and past his prime. But, he is still good enough to play in the top European leagues. It would take an obscene amount of money to convince Zlatan to come to India, but, with his penchant for creating headlines, he would be worth every penny. Not to mention, India has never seen a football player of the stature and brazen impudence of Zlatan. What Mumbai City really needs are characters like him. However, a colourful marquee signing would only be a short-term fix. In the long term, most important, because this after all is sports, would be an attacking and adventurous style of play. Something the CFG advertises. That above all will help win fans and build a lasting legacy.
So, what can the CFG really bring to Indian football? The answer is much needed foreign investment, an example of how to run a professional club, a sustainable model for others to emulate, and more eyeballs. All these, in turn, could prompt other big names to invest in Indian football in the future. The CFG's entry could turn out to be a shot in the arm for the ISL and, going forward, Indian football.
