Atlético de Madrid lands in Canada with the purchase of a team in Ottawa

Atlético de Madrid announced the purchase of a Canadian Premier League license, a competition with eight teams that will begin its second edition starting April 11 and in which the rojiblanco team will co-own a club in the capital of Canada, Ottawa.

Atlético will collaborate on this project with local businessman Jeff Hunt, a shareholder of the Ottawa Redblacks of Canadian football (sport similar to American football) and the Ottawa 67's ice hockey.

For the signing of the agreement, the president of the Canadian Premier League, David Clanachan, the CEO of the competition, Scott Mitchell, and the financial director Doug Rye, who met at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium with the CEO were moved to Madrid of Atlético, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín.

The top rojiblanco shareholder was pleased to be part of an “exciting” project in a league that he said he has “a very strong structure in a spectacular country,” according to the official Atlético website.

“We will work with the CPL to contribute our experience and together with the rest of the clubs in the league help in the growth of Canadian football. We want Ottawa fans to be proud to belong to this great family that is Atlético de Madrid and share our values ​​with them. “

For his part, the president of the Canadian football league, David Clanachan, said they are “very excited” to add to their competition “one of the most iconic and successful football brands in the world.”

Atlético is also a shareholder of the Mexican team of San Luis Potosí, renamed Atlético San Luis since March 2017 and promoted to Liga MX last year. He was also a shareholder of French Lens and Atlético Calcutta, of India, although he sold his stake in both projects.