CFG entered into a similar collaborative tie-up with Singaporean club Geylang International in early 2023. (CFG imagery)

City Football Group (CFG), the owner of English soccer giants Manchester City and multiple other clubs worldwide, has unveiled a collaboration with İstanbul Başakşehir, from Turkish soccer's Super Lig.

Through a deal unveiled yesterday (February 18), CFG will provide consultation to the Istanbul side – whose ownership is linked to Turkey’s ruling political party and the country’s government – on a range of on-pitch matters.

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These will include long-term soccer strategy, recruitment, scouting, and coaching methodology.

In exchange, CFG – majority owned by Abu Dhabi United Group – has said the collaboration will help the group “grow knowledge and develop relationships in Turkey.”

Ferran Soriano, City Football Group’s chief executive, has said: “Turkey is a passionate soccer country, and we are looking forward to working together with Başakşehir on strategic projects. We aim to contribute to the club’s success on the pitch and to develop great soccer expertise and intelligence in Turkey.”

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Göksel Gümüşdağ, the president of İstanbul Başakşehir FK, added: “İstanbul Başakşehir FK has achieved many firsts in Turkish soccer despite its young age, and today, with this collaboration with the leading soccer group in the world, it marks another milestone for İstanbul Başakşehir and Turkish soccer.”

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CFG currently has 13 clubs in its portfolio (either fully or partly owned): Manchester City, New York City (US), Melbourne City (Australia), Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay), Girona FC (Spain), Shenzhen Peng City (China), Mumbai City FC (India), Lommel SK (Belgium), Esperance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne (France), Bahia FC (Brazil), and Palermo FC (Italy).

Last February, the group struck a similar collaborative deal with Geylang International, of Singaporean soccer's Premier League.

İstanbul Başakşehir, meanwhile, were bought by their new owners in 2014 (at which point the club in its current iteration was formed).

The club won the Super Lig for the first time in 2019-20.