The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment are the company who claim to have bought out Thaksin Shinawatra's share in the Barclays Premier League club.

Group representative Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim told www.arabianbusiness.com: "We will release details later, but this is a great event for both the club and Abu Dhabi.

"Our goal is very simple - to make Manchester City the biggest club in the Premier League, and to begin with, to finish in the top four this season."

Former Thailand Prime Minister Shinawatra took charge at City in July 2007 but reports indicate he has now left the club.

Al Fahim said: "We will adopt marketing plans that reflect positively on the club and the company from investments in all sectors of television marketing and purchasing of the star players, as well as development of infrastructure facilities at the club."