The former football executive who withdrew his offer to buy Manchester United has formed a "multibillion dollar" investment fund that will look to build other "big clubs" into Champions League contenders.
Thomas Zilliacus, a former Nokia executive who ran HJK Helsinki, submitted a supporter-led offer to takeover United before claiming he pulled out of the bidding over the inflated price tag. He said the focus of his XXI Century Capital group is now on teams open to investment on both the continent and in the UK.
"We have turned our focus to some other big clubs, primarily in continental Europe but also in the UK, that have strong potential to provide investors with superior returns," he said. "We are very bullish about the value we find in certain markets and believe we can invest in clubs that will provide great returns while at the same time providing the fans with superior entertainment.”
