On Friday 8 April 2022, the acquisition of 51% of the share capital of Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. took place. It was purchased by a group of investors with extensive experience in the world of football and in the management of clubs worldwide such as Inter Miami (USA), Racing Club de Lens (France) and Millonarios FC (Colombia).
This group of investors includes, among others, brothers Jorge and José Mas Santos, Joseph Oughourlian, Gustavo Serpa, Jim Carpenter and Jim Miller. The agreement is subject to two suspensive conditions: the permanence of Real Zaragoza in LaLiga SmartBank this season and the authorisation of the operation by the Consejo Superior de Deportes.
Other future owners of the Spanish club include Gustavo Serpa, chairman of Colombian club Millonarios, Joseph Oughourlian, president of French club Racing Lens, and investors Jim Carpenter and Jim Miller.
Raul Sanllehi, who has worked for Barcelona and Arsenal, will be the club’s sports director.
The takeover is pending on Zaragoza not being relegated to the third division this season and the approval of the purchase by Spanish authorities, the club said.
Zaragoza, once a regular in Spain’s top division until it was relegated in 2013, is currently in 14th place in the 22-team second division.
The ECIJA´s team advising the buyers on this deal was led by partner Magdalena Bertram, together with lawyer Álvaro Gallego.
As informed by Legal Dealmaker, Real Zaragoza was advised by Cuatrecasas on this deal with a team led by Cuatrecasas’ team was led by partner Antonio Garcia Lapuente, principal associate Mara Tomás Ric, along with lawyers Rocio Agreda Pardo and Pablo Villanova Caro.
