Who is Sheikh Mansour ?
Sheikh Mansour is the proprietor of the City Football Group. He holds a prominent position as one of the influential business figures in the Middle East. Additionally, he serves as the deputy prime minister in the United Arab Emirates.
The meteoric rise of Manchester City to the highest rungs of European football began with the acquisition of the club by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi in 2008.
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During the span of 15 years under the leadership of Sheikh Mansour, Manchester City has achieved a total of seven Premier League titles, along with 4 FA Cups and six EFL Cups. However, amid the alleged £2.5bn ($3.5bn) investment from Abu Dhabi since Mansour’s acquisition, Manchester City recently has been able to secure the much sought-after Champions League title in 2023 in a final match against Inter Milan (june 10, 2023) in Istanbul.
However, in the same season (2022/2023), Manchester city won the FA Cup, domestic league, and European treble and emerged victorious against Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul.
Considering the domestic accomplishments of City during Mansour’s ownership, this notable feat would undeniably solidify the Abu Dhabi sheikh’s position among the most accomplished owners in European football history.
Sheikh Mansour’s business and political career, net worth
Ok now, let’s shift the focus to the multifaceted professional trajectory of Sheikh Mansour, encompassing both his economic and political endeavours, as well as an examination of his considerable financial fortune.
Although his chairmanship of City is widely recognised as his most prominent position, according to his official biography, it is not considered his most significant role. In addition to serving as chairman of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and Emirates Global Aluminium, the 50-year-old Emirati royal is also chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, which manages the $370 billion sovereign wealth fund of the emirate.
Mansour, in his capacity as the leader of Aabar Investments, manages a highly profitable assortment of commercial ventures, encompassing a 32% ownership interest in Virgin Galactic and a 9.1% ownership interest in Daimler. This has contributed to his estimated net worth of $16.8 billion. Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation (ADMIC), which is under his ownership, played a pivotal role in the establishment of Sky News Arabia through a collaborative venture with British Sky Broadcasting.
Mansour’s sporting pursuits encompass his ownership of City Football Group, which encompasses Manchester City, Melbourne City FC, New York City FC, Mumbai City FC, and other entities. Additionally, he holds the position of chairman in the Al Jazira sports company, which possesses the UAE Pro League team, Al Jazira Club. Furthermore, he assumes the role of chairman in the Emirates horse racing authority. He is an ardent advocate of Arabian horse racing and possesses a notable track record as a proficient equestrian, having achieved numerous victories in endurance racing competitions held in the Middle Eastern region.
The personal life of Mansour
Mansour has entered into matrimony on two separate occasions. The individual entered into matrimony with his former spouse, Sheikha Alia bint Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, during the mid-1990s. From this union, they were blessed with a single male offspring named Zayed. In the year 2005, Mansour entered into matrimony with Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the offspring of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The family consists of five children, namely Fatima (born in 2006), Mohammed (born in 2007), Hamdan (born in 2011), Latifa (born in 2014), and Rashid (born in 2017).
What is the total expenditure made by the owner of Manchester City?
Since his arrival in Manchester 15 years ago, Mansour has allocated around £1.5 billion towards the acquisition of new players.
The most significant financial allocation occurred in August 2021, with a £100 million investment made towards the acquisition of Jack Grealish. This transaction marked a historic milestone in British football, as it represented the highest transfer fee ever recorded at that time.
The initial acquisition occurred shortly after finalising the club’s ownership, as the Cityzens secured the services of Robinho from Real Madrid for a sum of £32.5 million, setting a new record for the highest transfer fee in British football at that time.
The acquisition of the Brazilian player on the deadline day marked the beginning of a successful period for City, resulting in the team winning seven Premier League titles since Mansour assumed ownership.
Since the acquisition, the team has achieved success by securing three FA Cups and six League Cups. Additionally, the club reached the final of the prestigious Champions League in both 2021 and 2023.
Properties owned by Mansour
Opulent accommodations, encompassing the exclusive distinction of being home to the world’s sole Seven Star Hotel.
Sheikh Mansour is a prominent individual affiliated with the House of Nahyan, a family with a combined net worth that is roughly estimated to be £560 billion (equivalent to approximately 560 Trillion Naira). According to a report by Mirror, Sheikh Mansour expended roughly £42 million (equivalent to approximately N40.8 billion) in 2016 to acquire an opulent Spanish estate spanning an extensive area of 20,000 acres.
The ownership of the opulent Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is attributed to Sheikh Mansour and his family, as reported by The Sun. The hotel in question, often referred to as one of the few seven-star establishments globally, boasts a total of 394 rooms, including 22 residential suites. It has been said that the interior of the resort is adorned with gold furnishings. Additionally, the aforementioned claim proposes that the ultra-premium hotel served as the filming location for the Hollywood film Fast and Furious 7.
A yacht with valuation in millions of dollars.
In 2022, Sheikh Mansour made a significant expenditure of £500 million to acquire a mega-yacht of 525 feet in length. The yacht was christened “Blue” in honour of his Premier League football club, Manchester City F.C. According to a report by The Sun, Sheikh Mansour possesses a boat featuring a total of 40 cabins, multiple entertaining decks, a swimming pool, two helipads, and a club facility. According to the news, it is also indicated that the proprietor of Manchester City Football Club had provided a loan of his exceptionally huge yacht, which ranks as the fourth largest globally, to his esteemed acquaintance, the Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio. This loan was extended with the purpose of facilitating a gathering for Mr. DiCaprio’s intimate circle of friends in the year 2014.
A compilation of high-priced wheels
The affluent monarch has a fondness for luxurious automobiles. Sheikh Mansour possesses an impressive collection of high-end automobiles, including five Bugatti Veyron and a Porsche 911 GT1 valued at around £3 million. The opulence and extravagance of these vehicles would undoubtedly captivate any observer.
Other investments
Sheikh Mansour, with a substantial net worth of $30 billion, has made investments in nearly 50 global enterprises, as reported by The Sun. These investments include notable entities such as Virgin Galactic, a space tourism venture owned by Richard Branson, as well as Ferrari and Daimler AG (Mercedes).
In addition to Manchester City F.C, the City Football Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour, has made investments in many football clubs worldwide. The aforementioned list comprises New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, Girona FC, and Club Athletico Torque.
