PSG owners eye Malaga purchase in €100m deal

PSG owners Qatar Sports Investment(QSI) are ready to add Malaga to the list of business acquisitions in a €100m takeover.

QSI already holds an 87.5% stake in PSG and 21.67% ownership of Braga and is looking to add a Spanish club to the list of football clubs already owned by the Qatari billionaires.

Sky News and L’Équipe reports confirm that negotiations between the Qatari group and Malaga are in advanced stages for a complete takeover.

Malaga’s financial crisis over the years has been telling, and it is currently under receivership. The club is co-owned by the Spanish hotel and real estate group BlueBay (49%) and Qatar businessman Abdullah Al-Thani.

A takeover by QSI comes with many benefits, including an opportunity to stabilise the club’s dire finances.

Strategically place the city of Malaga in pole position to take maximum advantage of its nomination to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which includes plans to renovate and modernise the club’s stadium.

In addition to that, as the sixth-largest city in Spain, Malaga presents the perfect market expansion opportunity for the investment company, both on the commercial side and competitively on the pitch.

Furthermore, it also adds another European team to QSI’s growing sports empire.

Malaga may not be the only football venture QSI will be looking at; however, a confirmation from spokesperson Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who doubles as the owner of PSG, indicates that the group is exploring multiple investment opportunities in both Europe and America.

Reports suggest that QSI is also considering a project in Belgium, further expanding its portfolio in European football.

Amid all the excitement, if Malaga, under QSI’s ownership, were to gain promotion to La Liga and eventually qualify for European competitions, there could be regulatory challenges ahead – UEFA’s rules prohibit clubs with the same majority owner from competing in the same tournament.

PSG remains a key part of QSI’s long-term plans despite recent changes in its ownership structure.

The French club recently sold a 12.5% stake to American investment fund Arctos, and discussions are ongoing with other potential investors.

This means that both PSG and Malaga would need to ensure compliance if they were to participate in the Champions League or Europa League simultaneously.

However, should the takeover go through, Malaga could be set for a major historical transformation, with a notable financial injection and an ambitious vision aimed at restoring the club’s former glory.