TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Oil-rich Malaysian prince puts Valencia in his sights

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, crown prince of the oil-rich state of Johor, said Valencia needs someone who is "hungry for success", adding that he was motivated by "creating history".

  (Agence France-Presse)
Singapore
Wed, March 3, 2021

Share This Article

Change Size

 Oil-rich Malaysian prince puts Valencia in his sights In this file photo taken on March 25, 2017, newly appointed President for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim listens to questions from a journalist during a press conference before the FAM annual congress meeting in Kuala Lumpur. (Agence France Presse/Mohd Rasfan). Usage: 0 (Agence France Presse/Mohd Rasfan)

A

Malaysian prince has prompted speculation of a takeover bid for Spanish football club Valencia after posting about his ambitions for the La Liga outfit.

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, crown prince of the oil-rich state of Johor, said Valencia needs someone who is "hungry for success", adding that he was motivated by "creating history".

Valencia are owned by Peter Lim, a billionaire businessman from Singapore, which neighbours the prince's southern state across the Straits of Johor.

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a prince," Tunku Ismail, 36, wrote in a series of Instagram stories, which are no longer available but were posted as screenshots by media.

"I'm not someone who will change your club logo or tradition," he added. 

"What does Valencia need? You need someone who knows about football, hungry for success, passionate, and understand how big Valencia is as a club," wrote the prince.

Tunku Ismail already owns Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim, who last year won their seventh straight Malaysian league title and inaugurated the 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibraham Stadium.

Lim's Meriton Holdings bought Valencia FC for 420 million euros in 2014, including 200 million euros to clear the club's debts.

However, relations with fans have soured after a lack of success on the pitch and a revolving door of managerial appointments.

Valencia, who in the early 2000s won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup, and reached two Champions League finals, are currently 14th in the league, five points clear of the relegation places.

The club was valued at 408 million euros in a report by global accountancy firm KPMG last year.

Lim's representatives referred a request for comment to Valencia, who did not immediately respond. AFP is also attempting to contact representatives of Tunku Ismail.

{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.