Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are exploring the possibility of acquiring Spanish second-tier club Malaga, according to The Athletic.
In February, a delegation from FSG visited Malaga’s facilities to evaluate the club as a potential acquisition, with FSG seeking to expand their multi-club model and leverage its expertise in football operations across multiple teams.
FSG are open to various forms of investment but prioritises injecting the necessary finance to make a significant impact on a club’s football operations. Regarding Malaga, FSG’s immediate focus is on acquiring the stake held by majority shareholder Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani.
Malaga are 49% owned by the Spanish hotel and real estate group Blue Bay, while Qatari businessman Al Thani holds the remaining 51%. The club is currently in administration and under judicial control.
This move is in line with FSG’s strategy of targeting clubs with strong traditions and growth potential, similar to their previous interest in Bordeaux. FSG withdrew from negotiations to buy the French club last year following extensive discussions with all involved parties.
The group sees the potential to restore Malaga to the upper echelons of Spanish and European football.
Once a prominent team in Europe, Malaga reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, but five years later were relegated from La Liga and have yet to return to the top flight.
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Malaga spent the 2023-24 season in Spain’s regionalized third tier and is currently 15th in the second division, seven points above the relegation zone and nine points away from a promotion play-off spot.
Earlier this week, Paris Saint-Germain’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) disclosed that they are also considering an investment in Malaga. A QSI spokesperson said, “QSI is exploring a range of investment opportunities across Europe and America.”
FSG’s exploration of Malaga is part of a broader strategy to evaluate several Spanish clubs. Over the past year, the group has conducted due diligence and visited clubs such as Levante, Elche, Espanyol, Getafe, and Valladolid. Additionally, FSG is also focused on opportunities in the French market.
Alongside Liverpool, FSG own the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball, the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League, NASCAR’s RFK Racing, and TGL’s Boston Common Golf.
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