As well as Manchester City and New York City, CFG have a minority interest in Ange Postecoglou-coached Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.

But this month they added Uruguay side Club Atlético Torque to the group as well as last year's joint ownership deal with Pep Guardiola's brother Pere for La Liga side Girona.

They now also have a partnership deal with Eredivisie side NAC Breda too.

While some fans have misgivings about CFG owning clubs within the same confederation – and the possible conflicts of interest ahead in Europa or Champions League games – CFG is keen to stress the opportunities it can bring.

CFG's managing director of City Football Services Brain Marwood flew into Melbourne this week to hail the possibilities ahead for players in the CFG system.

City have expanded their Australian academy to take players of all ages right through to the A-League side, and are deliberately playing them in older age groups to challenge the youngsters.

While local established clubs have voiced concerns about City grabbing all the talented youngsters for themselves, City reject the criticism, and insist they can offer more than anyone else in Australia.

And Socceroo Aaron Mooy's route from AAMI Park to Huddersfield Town and the Premier League is being held up by the club as a potential pathway for any talented young Aussies in the A-League.

"Part of our recruitment process is that people have seen what has happened to Aaron and there's a there's an aspiration is an ambition from young Australians to go play in Europe," said former Arsenal winger Marwood.

"And I think that if we can facilitate that and the same time they can play League football and that can be a platform for them to develop and hone their abilities, then I do genuinely believe I do think there is talent here,

"I really do believe that."

City's new academy structure sees the club competing at all ages in the system as they try to unearth the next Mooy or Daniel Arzani.

But they also see potential for some of Manchester's talented youngsters flying Down Under to join the A-League campaign and then impress their way into the Premier League side.

"I'd love some of the young players here, because I don't think they realise what this league can offer them in terms of developmental opportunities," said Marwood. "This would be a really good platform for them to come and perform here.

"But you only get a certain amount of international spots allocated so do you use one of those on a rookie 18 year old out of Manchester that's had no first teamexperience versus a Bruno Fornaroli or a Bart Schenkeveld? That's always the dilemma."

Despite Mooy's successful return to the UK, Marwood is keen not to send Aussies overseas too young, even when they're as talented as City flier Arzani.

"We have to be careful with young players, not to take them out too quickly," he added. "Because this is a great league for you to develop as a young player.

"But then there will become that moment in time where they want to pursue that pathway – but it has to be the right time.

"Even if they're not ready to go there full time. I would love some of these boys to go and have six months in in Spain or in Holland or in Uruguay, just for the experience.

"If they're not quite ready to play in our first team, is the best thing for them to go play in the NPL or is it to go and be in Girona, in their B or C team? Would that be a better experience for them?.

"I think that in terms of lifestyle, in terms of being out of their comfort zone, in terms of moving home at an early age, in terms of growing and maturing, I think that would be a fantastic opportunity.

"By staying here, if they're not playing in our first team, it worries me that they're going to go through that development cycle and maybe maybe we have to take them out of that and put them somewhere to then come back and be closer to being ready for Melbourne's first team."