City Football Group adds Bolivia's Club Bolivar as partner club

Manchester City and New York City FC owner City Football Group added another club to its large group, announcing Tuesday that Bolivia's Club Bolivar would join the company as its first partner club.

Unlike CFG's arrangement with its other clubs, the company does not have an ownership stake in Club Bolivar. However, Club Bolivar will have access to many of CFG's resources, including data and technology to measure player performance and the expertise of those in the CFG system on scouting, coaching, and developing players. CFG will also help Club Bolivar with increasing revenue and building new facilities.

"Led by our recently appointed Sporting Director, Javier Recio, and now supported by the advice and expertise of City Football Group’s consultant, Bolivian native Rodrigo Marion, Club Bolivar aims to build a strong organization and develop players to help the nation qualify for the World Cup," Bolivar president Marcelo Claure said in a statement. "This arrangement will allow Club Bolivar to call upon the significant experience and knowledge of City Football Group to help it realise its ambition to develop leaders on and off the pitch and give Bolivian kids the opportunity to achieve their dreams."

Bolivar is the most successful club in Bolivia, winning 29 league titles, the last of which they won in 2019. The club have a further MLS connection, as president Claure also has an ownership stake in Inter Miami. Including Bolivar, CFG has clubs in 11 countries in five continents.