Pundits. Players. Agents. Supporters. Commentators from across the footballing spectrum cast Manchester City as the blueprint for Newcastle United following their Saudi-backed takeover.
For English football fans, the story is all too familiar. Premier League also-rans transforming into one of the world’s most ambitious entities overnight, supercharged by the billions of a gulf state.
However, there is controversy and scrutiny which state-backed takeovers endure. Fans continue to be drawn into geopolitical debates over topics such as human rights.
