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EXCLUSIVE Russo: why Atletico want to buy Lens
The French media reveals that it’s the Spanish club’s General Manager Miguel Angel Gil Marin that is taking care of the negotiation, and he will try to convince the Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov. The latter also owns FC Baku and has tried to buy Sheffield Wednesday. Moreover, it seems that Mammadov also owns some shares of FC Porto and Atletico Madrid themselves. Lens, Sheffield and Atletico have or had as main sponsor the Azerbaijani Ministry of Turism, with the slogan “Azerbaijan Land of Fire” written on their team’s jerseys.
Mammadov, who has funded the Baghlan Group, has then received an important help from the government. But now, as reported by L’Equipe, the Azerbaijani Central Bank has banned the Bank of Azerbaijan, owned by the Mammadov themselves and that is facing a financial crisis.
Even the Belgian businessman Gregory Maquet has tried to buy Lens, but the competition of the group behind Atletico Madrid is too strong. Behind the colchoneros there is in fact not only the Azerbaijani government but also the Chinese group Dalian Wanda, that owns the 20% of the Spanish club itself.
Moreover, Atletico are in good terms with the stars of the parallel economy of football, as Jorge Mendes, Pini Zahavi and Doyen. And for who has such relations, it’s very useful to own a group abroad. No matter what FIFA circular letter no 1464 says.
Pippo Russo translated by M.G.
