Atletico Madrid will speak Chinese. The news, which has been in the air for days, is now official: the Asian real estate giant Dalian Wanda Group, headed by entrepreneur Wang Jianlin, 101st richest man in the world according to Forbes, has revealed 20% of the Madrid company, for a amount around 45 million euros.
In any case, the majority shareholder of the Colchoneros will remain Miguel Angel Gil, with a diluted 52% stake, and will maintain control of the company together with Enrique Cerezo Torres, who will have a 20% stake. According to Cerezo, Wang Jianlin's goal is to “give a boost to Atletico's youth academies in Madrid and in those that will be born in China” while “The entire amount of the investment will end up in the company's investment funds”.
For the Atletico board of directors "Opening the brand to the Asian market is a fundamental step in the club's economic expansion and will allow the team to pursue great sporting goals". In any case, it is probable that a trusted man of Wang Jianlin will be included in the club's organizational chart.
