Man City owners City Football Group agree partnership with controversial team

Manchester City's owners City Football Group have further expanded their global reach by agreeing a partnership with a controversial club.

City dominated European football last season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League as part of a historic treble.

Pep Guardiola's side are one of the best club teams of all time, but City's owners don't want to stop there.

City Football Group - the organisation that owns City - counts clubs from across the world in its portfolio.

CFG are majority owners of teams including New York City FC, Palermo and Bahia, and are minority shareholders in LaLiga high-flyers Girona and Yokohama F. Marinos.

Troyes, Melbourne City, Montevideo City Torque, Shenzhen Peng City, Mumbai City, Lommel and Club Bolivar are also part of the CFG umbrella.

CFG and multi-club ownership have come under criticism in recent weeks after City agreed to sign Brazilian winger Savio from French second division side Troyes, a member of CFG.

The 19-year-old has impressed on loan at Girona this season, but it looks like he will never play for Troyes despite being the club's record signing.

Now, CFG have entered into a collaboration agreement with Istanbul Basaksehir FK, which will see CFG provide consultation on issues including long-term football strategy, recruitment, scouting and coaching methodology.

The Super Lig side are widely regarded as a political tool for Turkey's controversial president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the club has close links with his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The club's president and majority owner, Goksel Gumusdag, is a member of the AKP and is married to a niece of Erdogan's wife.

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Since Erdogan became president in 2014, free speech and political opposition in Turkey have been severely restricted.

In a statment, Gumusdag said: "Istanbul Basaksehir FK has achieved many firsts in Turkish football despite its young age and today, with this collaboration with the leading football group in the world, it marks another milestone for Istanbul Basaksehir and Turkish football.

"From the very beginning, we have reiterated at every opportunity that our vision and goals are different and today underlines this expression again. We are very happy, proud and excited."

A CFG statement read: "The collaboration will help CFG grow knowledge and develop relationships in Turkey, an ambitious football nation and developer of talent.

"This will also provide CFG with an opportunity to collaborate across emerging football areas with a club that has a shared vision."

Basaksehir won their only Super Lig title in 2020 and are currently ninth in the Turkish top flight.