Getafe president Angel Torres signs a series of agreements and protocols with Dubai-based Royal Emirates Group
"I was in Dubai looking for sponsors. We signed a series of agreements and protocols. No one should doubt Angel Torres. Getafe has not yet been sold," he told reporters as he arrived at Madrid airport from Dubai.
"First I have to inform the board of all the things that were done, then I will give a news conference."
Royal Emirates Group, which is chaired by a member of Dubai's ruling Al-Maktoum family, said Thursday it had signed a deal to buy the club for between 70 and 90 million euros ($100 and 130 million).
The "purchase contract" was signed Thursday in Dubai by Torres and the business group's managing director, Kaiser Rafiq, Royal Emirates Group said in a statement.
"Royal Emirates Group plans to invest heavily in inducting new blood and promoting the team in the region with the aim to make Dubai a transcending sky bridge between Europe and the Middle East," the statement said.
The group's chairman, Sheikh Butti bin Suhail al-Maktoum, told a news conference in Dubai that the team would now be called "Getafe Team Dubai".
"We are very happy to sign this agreement with Getafe," he said.
Getafe was founded in 1945 but it has only been in Spain's top flight since 2005.
The club, located in suburban Madrid, finished sixth last season but are languishing in 14th place in the 20-club league this term, four points above the relegation zone.
Two other Spanish clubs have been bought by Gulf-based buyers over the past year.
Qatari billionaire Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani bought Malaga in May 2010 for 25 million euros.
And Bahrain-based Indian tycoon Ahsan Ali Syed bought debt-hit Racing Santander in January for a reported 30-40 million euros. Its players said Tuesday that they are still waiting for promised back-pay from last season.
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