Four Chinese investor groups are reportedly locked in a more than $140M "bidding war for one of the world's most powerful" football agencies, U.K.-based Stellar Group, a sign that "China's appetite for sport is outgrowing trophy club investments," according to Adam Jourdan of REUTERS. A source with direct knowledge of the talks said that the "Chinese bidders include model car maker Rastar Group," which last year bought a majority stake in La Liga side Espanyol. Salford University Sports Enterprise Professor Simon Chadwick said, "This is just the start of China's global sporting and football ambitions and we should expect more of the same over the next five years." He added that ultimately, "Chinese sports businesses will emerge that own assets across and throughout the global sport industry." If a deal is done, Stellar Group, founded by British agent Jonathan Barnett, "would be a major addition to China's fast-expanding roster of global football assets," which includes stakes in Man City, Spain's Atlético Madrid and a growing domestic league. A deal would give the Chinese buyer "access to some of the most connected football agents, and a list of high-profile players at a time when China is ploughing money into grassroots academies, television rights and transfer deals for overseas stars." The source said that Stellar Group could cost around 900M yuan ($138M), and "prices had only been verbally discussed." The person said that Barnett was "planning to travel to China at the end of the month to meet the suitors" (REUTERS, 5/20).
