Wanda denies Southampton takeover bid

By Lin Liyao
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, January 20, 2014
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Wanda Group hasn't approached anyone at Southampton football club for a takeover talk, according to Group owner Wang Jianlin, The Beijing News reported.

Wang Jianlin, the owner of Wanda Group denies the Group has had any contact with English football club Southampton to discuss a possible takeover. [xinmin.cn]

Wang Jianlin, the owner of Wanda Group denies the Group has had any contact with English football club Southampton to discuss a possible takeover. [xinmin.cn]

U.K. publication The Mirror on Jan. 18 published an article saying China's richest man was "ready" to make a £175 million takeover bid for the Premier League club, in order to break into the English football industry.

Wang has now denied this "news" in an interview with the local Beijing newspaper.

He said that at this point, no one in the Wanda Group has contacted the English club and the Group did not appoint any intermediary or third-party organization to discuss a possible takeover bid with Southampton.

This is the second time Wanda has had to deny a rumored takeover of a foreign football club.

In November 2013, Wanda had reportedly been in talks with Italian top-tier football club Roma, but this too proved to be a rumor.

Founded in 1988, the Dalian Wanda Group is a Chinese conglomerate company active in real estate, tourism, hotels and entertainment.

From 1994 to 2000, Wanda was the primary sponsor of the Dalian Shide Football Club. Since 2011, it has been a sponsor of the Chinese Football Association Super League.

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