Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has completed a deal to invest in Liverpool, his government have confirmed.
Thaksin will buy his shares from the 51% owned by Anfield chairman David Moores, meaning Liverpool may not profit directly. The cash will not come from Thaksin’s personal wealth but from Thai public funds.
“We will buy in the name of Thailand,” said government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair after a cabinet announcement.
“Most of the money will come from public funds,” Jakrapob added.
Thaksin’s spokesman, Chakrapot Penkai, believes the deal will be mutually beneficial.
“Thailand thinks that the Liverpool team can enhance the standard of the sport’s development in Thailand a great deal,” he told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme.
“Why does the prime minister want to invest in Liverpool? Because it is the era of the brand name and with a good quality brand name you can do many things.
“Liverpool’s name is a world-class name – people attach their fantasies, their liking for sports, their enhancement in life, their self-development, along with this kind of team.”
