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Manchester City FC now own 80% of Melbourne Heart. My A-League club is now owned by one of the richest sporting teams in the world.
The Sheikh Mansour-owned Manchester City have changed European football by unbalancing the transfer market and showing that money can buy success.
Ferran Soriano is the new chairman of Melbourne Heart.
Soriano has a powerful portfolio having also chaired Barcelona for five seasons and he currently occupies the CEO position at Manchester City and the new MLS franchise, New York City FC.
The Spaniard has suggested to construction of a world class training facility for the Heart as well as the opportunity for players and staff to experience City’s new training complex.
As far as recruiting new players is concerned, little will change money wise as the salary cap will prevent multiple million dollar signings, however a higher calibre of player could be enticed to come for what the Heart may now be able to offer behind the scenes which is outside the salary cap.
Soriano says he wants to listen before making any big decisions and says current manager John van’t Schip will keep his job for the time being, though it is possible that a big name manager appointment could be on the horizon.
I do not think that Melbourne Heart have anything to offer their newly adopted “mother club” as the players in the Melbourne Heart youth system would not be of a high enough standard to crack the Manchester City youth team, let alone have a chance in making the starting eleven.
The financial benefits of owning Melbourne Heart, even if they become a raging success, would only be small in comparison to Manchester City’s financial muscle.
So up to this point it seems like the biggest win of Melbourne Heart’s season and it probably is.
The main problem I have and I am sure I am not the only Heart supporter to have this problem… I am a Manchester United supporter.
Taunt as you wish about Manchester United and their struggles this season but this is a real problem for supporters of Melbourne Heart and Manchester United.
My stance on the matter is that Melbourne Heart are my A-League club therefore I will continue to support them and the fortunes they have obtained, for now.
However, there are three criteria that may convince me to move away from the Heart:
Number one, the name. The rumours of a name change to Melbourne City is something that concerns me and if it comes to fruition, it will be something Manchester United fans will struggle to come to grips with.
Number two, the crest. The Melbourne Heart crest is one of my favourite in the footballing world and it would be a real shame to lose it.
The crest is the identity of the club and it is what people around the world will identify with when they google Sheikh Mansour’s new footballing project.
New York City FC’s crest is one that is too plain for its own good and I could not see it going down well with any Heart fans if they adopt a similar crest.
Number three, the jersey. The Heart may look to change their jersey to replicate that of Manchester City and as a United fan that would probably be just too much for me to bare. Maybe as an away kit but that still would be painful for a lifelong United supporter.
There is also the issue of have two sky blue sides in the league.
Obviously there is many examples of multiple teams wearing the same colours in leagues across the world however Sydney FC are often referred to as the “Sky Blues”, and so are Manchester City.
A change to sky blue in Melbourne would not go down well in the Harbour city.
I know some may see this as being pathetic but then maybe you are not involved enough in football to realise that these rivalries are a big deal, especially for the fans.
What do you think Roarers? Would be good to hear from some fellow United/Heart supporters on your thoughts on the take over.
Follow me on Twitter @dylaneloi
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