Wolves & Grasshoppers
Links between Premier League side Wolves and Swiss club Grasshoppers have grown closer this week.
Wolves are owned by China’s Fosun Group, which is run by billionaire Guo Guangchang.
Guo Guangchang’s wife, Jenny Wang, has this week purchased control of Grasshoppers Club Zurich.
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While there’s been recent business between Wolves and Grasshoppers with regard to transfers, this week has seen boardroom changes in the two clubs.
Fosun: Guo Guangchang’s wife Jenny Wang buys Swiss club
The Fosun Group, headed by Guo Guangchang, bought Wolves back in July 2016.
The Chinese company paid 45 million pounds to acquire the total shareholding in Wolves from Steve Morgan.
Wolves were playing in the Championship at the time.
Before the coronavirus halted the season, Wolves were 6th in the Premier League.
So will Grasshoppers Zurich enjoy the same success as Wolves have had?
On Thursday, Grasshoppers confirmed that Jenny Wang had bought 90% of the club’s equity from previous owners Peter Stueber and Stephan Anliker.
The sum behind Jenny Wang’s takeover investment hasn’t been confirmed.
Grasshoppers are the most successful club in Swiss football, however they are currently playing in the second tier after the club’s relegation last term.
Nach intensiven Verhandlungen hat GC die Investorensuche zum gewünschten Abschluss gebracht. Die Champion Union HK Holdings Limited übernimmt die Aktienanteile der bisherigen Mehrheitsbesitzer. Operativ bleibt GC in Schweizer Händen. News: https://t.co/kJwHlDmYNh #gc #zürich
— Grasshopper Club Zürich (Stay at ) (@1886_gc_zuerich) April 9, 2020
How the takeover at Grasshoppers had an immediate impact at Molineux
For the sake of clarity, there’s no direct, legal link between Grasshoppers and Wolves.
While the Fosun Group own Wolves, the company which has purchased Grasshoppers is called Champion Union.
However, Champion Union are a subsidiary of the Fosun Group.
Athletic reporter Tim Spiers has confirmed that “there is no official link between (Grasshoppers) and Wolves… (they are) owned by separate companies and no official affiliation.”
Grasshoppers are historically Switzerland’s most successful club but were relegated last year for the first time in almost 70 years.
Am told there is no official link between them and Wolves but don’t be surprised to see more transfers between the clubs.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) April 9, 2020
nope – owned by separate companies and no official affiliation.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) April 9, 2020
However, the takeover at Grasshoppers has already affected the boardroom at Molineux.
Tim Spiers confirmed that “Wolves board member Sky Sun and European scout Bernard Schuiteman have both left Wolves to be president and sports director respectively.”
Swiss club Grasshopper Zurich has been bought by a Hong Kong firm owned by Jenny Wang, the wife of Fosun boss Guo Guangchang.
Wolves board member Sky Sun and European scout Bernard Schuiteman have both left Wolves to be president and sports director respectively.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) April 9, 2020
Wolves’ board now comprises Jeff Shi, John Gough and John Bowater, with Kevin Thelwell and now Sky Sun both stepping down recently.
Wolves bought very highly-rated youngster Christian Marques from Grasshoppers and also loaned Ed Francis to them in January.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) April 9, 2020
Previous dealings between Wolves & Grasshoppers
Last season, Wolves bought teenager Christian Marques from Grasshoppers.
Christian Marques is a 17-year-old centre-half who was born in Portugal, but grew up in the Grasshoppers academy.
Marques has played for the Swiss U16 side.
In January 2020, Wolves loaned 20-year-old defender Ed Francis to Grasshoppers until the end of the season.
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 02: Cristiano Ronaldo (2ndL) poses for a picture with his trophy as all-time top scorer of of Real Madrid CF with his son Cristiano Ronald JR, mother Maria Dolores dos Santos and his manager Jorge Mendes (L) at Honour box-seat of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on October 2, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. Portuguese palyer Cristiano Ronaldo overtook on his last UEFA Champions League match against Malmo FF Raul’s record as Real Madrid all-time top scorer. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
Was Jorge Mendes involved in the Grasshoppers takeover?
Wolves fans are well-aware of the influence that Jorge Mendes has at their club.
Mendes, the super-agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, was a key broker in the Wolves takeover.
The relationship between Fosun, Jorge Mendes and Wolves has previously been investigated by the Guardian:
Mendes’s relationship with the Fosun conglomerate… goes beyond friendship and advice: they have a business partnership and Mendes has been central to Fosun’s moves into football.
Mendes has since taken a raft of his clients to Molineux, including manager Nuno Espirito Santo, plus players Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.
Should Grasshoppers now expect other Mendes’ clients to arrive at their club?
Swiss outlet Blick note that while there have been rumours that Mendes was involved in the Jenny Wang takeover, there is no official source to confirm that the super-agent brokered the deal.
Nevertheless, Blick claim that Mendes “probably let his relationships play into the deal”.
More things you should know about this story
no, nothing that official, but Wolves are keen to forge links with clubs around Europe. The Jumilla thing went tits up but the FC Dac partnership has been productive, especially with Connor Ronan. Decent standard in the Swiss top flight if/when Grasshoppers get back up.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) April 9, 2020
“GCZ is a world-famous club that has been deeply rooted in the city for more than 130 years. The support of this prestigious football club is based on a long-term strategic decision I made to bring the club back to the top of Swiss football. ” – Jenny Wang.
The intent is clear.
— – (Stay at ) (@FootballSwissEN) April 9, 2020
There remains much speculation. Could we see an influx of Portuguese players in Zurich inspired by Jorge Mendes?
Will we see Grasshoppers become the Manchester City of Swiss football?
Who knows, but this is very exciting news for Grasshoppers fans after recent misery.
— – (Stay at ) (@FootballSwissEN) April 9, 2020
Also see: Best Netflix, Amazon & YouTube football documentaries & movies to watch during coronavirus isolation
9 best football documentaries to watch on ESPN+ during COVID-19 quarantine
This article was edited by Conor Laird.
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The post Wolves & Grasshoppers: Guo Guangchang’s wife buys Swiss club & that’s had an immediate impact at Molineux appeared first on News Africa Now.
