UAE sheikh denies he plans to buy Spanish team
Reports about Real Madrid $1 bln buyout "unfounded": source
A UAE sheikh has denied a report in a Spanish magazine that he was preparing to buy football giants Real Madrid for $1 billion, the UAE's official news agency WAM reported late Monday.
Citing a source close to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who owns Britain's Manchester City football club, WAM said the news was "unfounded" and "lacking credibility."
The source stressed that Sheikh Mansour was totally focused on upgrading Manchester City and turning it into one of the Premiere League's top clubs.
The source also said the sheikh appreciated Real Madrid's experience and suported the twinning agreement, signed in 2005 between the Spanish giants and Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira Club, of which the sheikh is president.
The report in question was published by Spanish sports daily AS on Dec. 27 and was subsequently picked up by various press agencies, including Al Arabiya.