Man City owners could sell club if appeal fails, claims expert

Manchester City's owners could decide to sell the club if their appeal against any Premier League financial fair play sanctions is unsuccessful. That is according to United Arab Emirates expert Christopher M. Davidson, author of 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond'. Sheikh Mansour has owned Manchester City since 2008. However, Davidson believes Abu Dhabi's ruling family may distance themselves from the club if a guilty verdict is upheld and severe penalties follow. "Once some time has passed and the dust settles, my sense is that they will walk away. I think this will be viewed primarily through a political and cultural lens," he told The Athletic.

"Abu Dhabi's ruling family would feel embarrassed and disgraced by such a ruling, and the best way forward would be to sell the club to cut their losses, rather than allow this to drag on as a long-term issue that permanently tarnishes their ownership in England. I cannot see a scenario where they would carry on," Davidson added.

Meanwhile, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak stated in June that there are no plans to put the club up for sale. "Manchester City and this group are at the pinnacle of world football, and you don't sell jewels like this," he insisted.