RIO DE JANEIRO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The owners of Manchester City are interested in acquiring a controlling stake in reigning Brazilian Serie A champions Atletico Mineiro, according to media reports in the South American country.
City Football Group (CFG), as the holding company is known, has offered to pay one billion reais (around 150 million British pounds) for a 51% interest in the Belo Horizonte outfit, Globo Esporte reported.
It added that Atletico's board is seeking at least two billion reais for the deal to go ahead.
In August, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed off on legislation that paved the way for clubs, which have historically been owned by fans, to be transformed into limited companies.
Cruzeiro became the first side to take advantage of the new law in December when former Brazil striker Ronaldo secured a 90% stake in his former club for 400 million reais (around 70 million U.S. dollars).
Botafogo followed days later by agreeing to a takeover from US businessman John Textor.
In addition to Manchester City, CFG's global investment portfolio includes stakes in Major League Soccer outfit New York City FC, China's Sichuan Jiuniu, and Uruguay's Montevideo City Torque, among other clubs. ■
