Following the acquisition of a significant share in Mumbai City FC, a member of the Indian Super League (ISL), CFC CEO Ferran Soriano highlighted that the behavior of Indian football fans is very similar to that seen in Europe. He believes the country is on a clear path to becoming a major player in the football world. The owners of Manchester City officially took a 65% stake in the club on Thursday, while Bimal Parekh and actor Ranbir Kapoor retain the other 35%.
Mumbai City is now the eighth club globally and the third in Asia to be brought under the CFC umbrella. Soriano explained his optimism by citing India's scale—specifically its 1.3 billion people—and the palpable talent and passion he witnessed during past visits. He noted that the local fans truly grasp the nuances of the sport, mirroring European fan culture, and predicted that India's rise as a footballing nation is inevitable within the next five to ten years. Mentioning CFC's presence in the US, Soriano compared the vibe of Mumbai to New York, expressing certainty that the sport would thrive in the city.
CFC additionally has a stake in an American club. Soriano said that Mumbai feels like New York and he is assured that football will really be successful in the Indian city.
Soriano described Mumbai as a brilliant, cosmopolitan city that reminds him of New York. He recalled how CFC started from scratch in New York six years ago and achieved great success, leading him to be completely confident that football will see similar growth in Mumbai.
Soriano didn't rule out the possibility of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola visiting to support Mumbai City, emphasizing that the primary goal is to accelerate the growth of football across India.
He clarified that their mission isn't to simply impose foreign models, but to help unlock the existing potential within Indian football. He suggested that the current level of talent among local players and coaches is perhaps underestimated and that CFC is there to support them.
According to Soriano, this support involves sharing technical expertise, exchanging experiences, and providing inspiration. While they may bring in some external experts, the ultimate aim is to empower the domestic Indian football ecosystem.