Manchester City FC Seeking Partnership with AS Saint-Etienne
Manchester City FC are eager to continue the expansion of their empire. Their next target appears to be French Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Etienne. Renowned for the excellent youth system, Manchester City appear ready to strike a partnership with the club.
The superb youth system at Saint-Etienne has produced many of the worlds top players. This includes Chelsea Centre-Back Kurt Zouma, Wolfsburg and France international midfielder Joshua Guilavogui, and Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam.
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City already have established partnerships with Major League Soccer’s New York City FC and Australian A-League side Melbourne City.
Though the group is interested in setting up a partnership with Saint-Etienne, there have been no announced plans to purchase the French club. However, a possible purchase cannot be ruled out for the super-rich ownership group.
Already owning both — New York City FC and Melbourne City– of their main partners, nothing can be ruled out. At this preliminary stage though, nothing is for certain. Talks have just occurred, the interest from both could still go either way.
Saint-Etienne do seem ready to do business with the English giant though. The club has already held talks with the City Football Group through the clubs oversight committee.
Bernard Caiazzo, the committee’s president, revealed details of his colleagues –Dominique Rocheteau– meeting with the CFG representatives to French paper L’Equipe.
"It’s been four or five times now that Dominique has met them, it seems very serious. They are people who want to work in the long-term.”"
Caiazzo would also explain how the partnership would help his club attract some of the world’s best youth players.
"“Unlike Monaco or Lyon, we don’t pay for youngsters. Once, we had an agreement with a kid, but Monaco came in he went there. In the future, we can imagine that City would help us pay.”"
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The terms of a possible agreement have not yet been announced. However, it is believed that a partnership would give City first choice of the French side’s top talents. In return, Saint-Etienne would be given the financial backing of the City Football Group. This would allow the club to bring in any youngster they want.
For both clubs, this could eventually become a great deal. Allowing Saint-Etienne a chance at any youngster they want will help both the club and the youth players development. That development process could one day pay off for City, allowing them to bring in the top young players for little to no cost.
It would allow Manchester City to continually rebuild and retool their growing empire with top young players from all over the planet. Mixing these young players with the established one’s already with the club could create one of the worlds greatest powerhouses.
Overall, this could lead to some very special things for both Manchester City FC and Saint-Etienne. Saint-Etienne receiving the much needed investments while Manchester City will receive the youthful talent the club wishes to have.