...to talk with PSG owners about investment.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/06/03/leeds-united-owner-andrea-radrizzani-travels-qatar-talk-psg/
It's behind the Telegraph paywall (and so might be hidden to non-subscribers) so here is the text:
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is in Doha to discuss Qatar taking a stake in the Championship club which narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
Qatar Sports Investments, which controls Paris Saint-Germain, has been looking to invest in an English club with potential and a strong heritage for some time and it is understood talks are taking place with Leeds.
They are not the only club being considered by QSI but Telegraph Sport understands that Radrizzani is meeting with the group’s chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also PSG’s president, in the Qatari capital.
The two men have a good relationship going back several years, dating from when Al-Khelaifi, the head of BeIN Sports, and Radrizzani , a co-founder of M&P Silva which he has since sold, negotiated television rights.
Radrizzani bought Leeds in 2017, initially acquiring a 50 per cent stake before fully buying out Massimo Cellino.
QSI has been considering a move into investing in England, not least because of the huge broadcast deals negotiated by the Premier League. Buying into a Championship club, and helping get it promoted, appears to be part of their thinking.
QSI bought PSG in 2011 and has invested heavily in the French giants, signing players such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, to make them one of the biggest clubs in the world.
It remains to be seen whether talks progress with Leeds and, significantly, whether QSI wants to take a controlling interest or just a minority stake.
Radrizzani , an Italian entrepreneur, has denied that he is interested in selling the club which reached the Championship play-offs after finishing third in the table before being knocked out by Derby County.
Despite that disappointment, manager Marcelo Bielsa has given Leeds a boost by agreeing to remain in charge for next season, but it remains to be seen what investment there will be in the squad.
Leeds, like many Championship clubs, are under pressure from the Financial Fair Play rules and while they are keeping within the limits it may affect their ability to spend on players. Radrizzani has already said he expects it to be a difficult summer.
Leeds have countered claims that Radrizzani is considering selling the club, or a further stake. He reduced his 100 per cent holding a year ago when 49ers Enterprises, the investment branch of the San Francisco 49ers, bought £11 million worth of shares, thought to be around 25 per cent of the club.
Leeds say Radrizzani will remain as chairman and majority shareholder for next season.
Radz travels to Qatar
posted on 4/6/19
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Whilst I appreciate that AR is seeking funding, it does mean that there is less focus on the job of building squad for next season.
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I don't see why squad building should stop if AR goes to Qatar. That would mainly be the remit of Orta and Bielsa.
I think it's good that AR lined this investment up in May and is progressing with it. I wouldn't be surprised if this investment and link-up with the PSG owners isn't in some way one of the reasons that Bielsa agreed to stay on for another season.
Smart business all round by AR for me.
posted on 4/6/19
comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 6 hours, 30 minutes ago
VOF totally agree.. I’ve read a lot of contradiction on here at times..
“We want new owners, radz is skint’ then “well it’s totally morally wrong on this money in football”
What do they want?
A clean living billionaire who rescues cats from trees, is a Leeds fan, and doesn’t have any other business interests what so ever!
Good luck with that
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I would be good with 2 out of 4.
posted on 4/6/19
Radz will not sell now, the potential rewards of waiting until we get promoted means he will try to get up without any other parties being involved.
posted on 4/6/19
No smoke without fire... I think we'll see investment with conditions attached. Investment does not necessarily translate into squad building funds. FFP rules apply. Unless we can do something about the revenue we will be restricted to a small budget plus player sales.
Of course, we could rename ER or announce the world's most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal.....
posted on 5/6/19
How many times have we seen behind the scenes activity co incidence with lack of focus. We see it every time there are rumours of takeovers we saw it as spygate rumbled on this season
These things are ALWAYS a distraction.
The sooner this is resolved the better and the club knows exactly what strategy it can pursue to properly support Bielsa.
posted on 5/6/19
Unless we can do something about the revenue we will be restricted to a small budget plus player sales.
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Revenue is double nearly every club in the l argue without parachute payments.
There plenty of room in FFP.
And with costs of £50m, budget is far from being small, it’s been wasted
posted on 5/6/19
We won’t get millions from this - yet - but I suspect we will get access to some decent fringe players who will bolster our squad next season. It will also help both clubs avoid breaking FFP rules.
If they invest now I think they will come back for the lot before too long.
posted on 5/6/19
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
How many times have we seen behind the scenes activity co incidence with lack of focus. We see it every time there are rumours of takeovers we saw it as spygate rumbled on this season
These things are ALWAYS a distraction.
The sooner this is resolved the better and the club knows exactly what strategy it can pursue to properly support Bielsa.
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Don’t you think Bielsa knows that already?
posted on 5/6/19
Revenue can’t increase much. Where would the increase come from.
The amount we spend on players is actually very good and Radz has been happy to focus the clubs spending on the squad.
Problem we have is that most of that money has and is being wasted. We are tied into paying a lot of money on wages for players that aren’t good enough. And now there’s not much room left to spend on new players. And we can’t get rid of the ones we don’t want to make room because no one wants them.
I have no issues with the amount we are spending. I think it’s around the right level of risk reward to get promotion from the owner. The problem is the director of football that has wasted it.
posted on 5/6/19
Lasogga has a new team!..
Going to play in Katar for Al-Arabi, 3 year contract earning over 10 mil €uros!..
Feckin eck!.
And his Mutter got him the deal!..