Manchester City parent company buys major stake in Girona

Manchester City's parent ownership company, the City Football Group, has added La Liga newcomer Girona to its stable of clubs.

CFG and the Girona Football Group, an agency owned by Pep Guardiola's brother Pere, have secured a deal for identical 44.3-percent shares of the Catalan outfit, according to a statement on Girona's website. The Girona fans' association will continue to control the remaining share of the club.

The two sides met last Tuesday in a friendly in Spain, with Girona taking a 1-0 result ahead of the start of the La Liga campaign.

An Abu Dhabi-based group controlled by City owner Sheikh Mansour, CFG has already founded or acquired MLS side New York City FC, Australian A-League giant Melbourne City FC, Uruguay's Club Atletico Torque, and Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos. CFG is also considering the purchase of a Chinese Premier League club, and City has a five-year deal with Dutch side NAC Breda founded on an agreement of loaning players.

City youngsters Pablo Maffeo, Aleix Garcia, Douglas Luiz, Marlos Moreno, and Larry Kayode are all on loan with Girona, which kicked off its La Liga campaign with a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.