Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City, has invested $750m into a fund managed by RedBird Capital Partners, a firm that holds an 11 per cent stake in Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The investment comes through Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments (IMI), a private firm controlled by Sheikh Mansour.
RedBird's fourth fund, now renamed RedBird-IMI, has raised $2.3bn of its $2.5bn target, with $1.56bn coming from other capital commitments. The fund is expected to surpass its goal, focusing on sports investments. RedBird, led by Gerry Cardinale, already owns AC Milan, Toulouse FC, and has stakes in the Rajasthan Royals and the XFL.
Despite the indirect link through FSG, sources have confirmed that RedBird will not participate in FSG's current search for investment in Liverpool. The search, led by Mike Gordon and facilitated by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, is expected to advance in the summer. FSG principal John Henry reiterated the group's long-term commitment to Liverpool.
