French Footballer Nicolas Anelka Buys Belgium Fourth Division Football Club Ath

In a "surprise move" former France int'l Nicolas Anelka "has bought Ath, a Belgian fourth division club on the brink of extinction," according to Samindra Kunti of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. Anelka had spells at Paris St. Germain, Chelsea, Man City, Juventus, Real Madrid and Arsenal during his club career. He is "now the marquee player-manager at Mumbai City, a franchise playing in the Indian Super League." Anelka was "rumored to have expressed an interest in Ath, a struggling fourth division club in Belgium, according to newspaper Sudpresse." On Saturday Anelka "was spotted on the touchline, wearing a checkered shirt and sunglasses as he watched Ath take on Warcoing in a friendly match." The Frenchman "has thrown Ath a lifeline by injecting new capital with the new season set to start next weekend." Ath Sports Dir Fabrice van Robays "confirmed that the deal was going through, but no financial terms were disclosed" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 7/20).