Rastar Group Co Ltd, a Shenzhen-listed toy and video game manufacturer, has become the first Chinese enterprise to own a majority stake in a Spanish soccer team, after securing a 56 percent participation¹ in Real Club Deportivo Espanyol.

星辉互动娱乐有限责任公司是一家深圳玩具及电子游戏制造商，在获得了56%的参与权后，它已经成为第一家拥有西班牙足球俱乐部大部分赌注的中国企业。

The Guangdong-based company announced it will pay 78 euros ($86) in cash for each share in the Catalan club, valuing the stake acquisition at 17.8 million euros.

位于广东的公司宣布，它将为加泰罗尼亚俱乐部支付每股78欧元的现金，股权收购估值约为1780万欧洲。

Chen Yueping, assistant general manager of Rastar Group, said that the company's acquisition of a majority stake in the soccer team was based on its long-term strategy to develop into a large corporation with business ranging from toys and mobile games to sports.

星辉互动娱乐有限责任公司助理总经理陈月平说，公司对于足球队大面积股权收购的行为，基于它发展成为一家横跨玩具，电子游戏到运动的商业公司的长远战略目标。

"We are upgrading our business by investing more in emerging industries including mobile games and sports," Chen told China Daily. "We believe the purchase of the Spanish club would help expand our global presence in the long term."

“我们正在通过更多地投资包络电子游戏和体育在内的新兴产业来升级我们的商业，”陈告诉今日中国。“我们相信，对西班牙足球俱乐部的购买会从长远上帮助扩大我们的全球地位。”

Rastar, which has a stock market value of $3 billion, will invest an additional 45 million euros to help clear the club's debt and improve the performance of the team, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.

据西班牙报业El Pais称，星辉互动娱乐有限责任公司拥有估价30亿的股票市场，它将再给俱乐部投资4500万美金以帮助他偿清债务，提升球队表现。

The Catalan club, which is currently 10th in La Liga standings, has a net debt of 134 million euros, which prompted shareholders² to find a strong buyer that could alleviate³ the club's economic burden.

加泰罗尼亚俱乐部目前西甲排名四十名，拥有13400万欧元的互联网债务，这促使股东寻找更加强大的收购者来减轻俱乐部的经济负担。

"There is certainly more than an equity⁴ deal here", said Alexander Jarvis, chairman of Blackbridge Cross Borders, a company that mediates⁵ soccer merger⁶ and acquisition deals. "Overall, it is a good signal to the market and a strong political move. Having the majority of the voting rights gives Rastar options on the table for selling equity in the near future to partners in China."

“这肯定不仅仅是一笔股票交易”， Blackbridge Cross Borders公司主席Alexander Jarvis说，该公司负责调节足球并购和股票交易。“总而言之，这对市场释放了一个很好的信号，是一次政治意味很重的交易。拥有绝大多部分的投票权给予星辉在未来想中国合伙人出售股票的机会。”

Despite its poor financials, the Barcelona-based team was approached this year by several Chinese suitors interested in expanding their presence in the European market.

尽管经济状况不好，但是今年好几家想要扩大欧洲市场的中国投资者都向这支巴塞罗那球队抛出了橄榄枝。

Earlier this year, Spanish media reported that Chinese travel conglomerate⁷ HNA Group had entered negotiations⁸ with Espanyol to purchase a 43 percent stake in the Catalan club for 10 million euros.

今年早些时候，西班牙媒体报道，中国旅游集团海航集团和Espanyol进入谈判阶段，计划以1000万欧元购买加泰罗尼亚俱乐部43%的股权。

Hong Kong-listed investment group Fosum was also said to have participated in the bidding battle, with an intention of purchasing a 51 percent stake in the team.

中国香港投资集团Fosum也据说参与了竞标，意图收购团队51%的股权。

Chinese companies are gradually increasing their influence in Spanish soccer through stake acquisitions and sponsorship agreements.

中国公司正在通过股权收购和自愿协议来逐渐增加他们对西班牙足球队的影响力。

There are now 16 La Liga clubs directly linked to Chinese investment, according to Southern Metropolis⁹ Daily.

现在已经有16个西甲俱乐部和中国投资直接相关，南方都市报称。

In January, real estate¹⁰ giant Wanda Group Co bought a 20 percent stake in leading Spanish club Atletico Madrid for 45 million euros, becoming the first Chinese company to invest in a major European soccer team.

一月，房地产巨头万达集团以4500万欧元购买了西班牙领先俱乐部马德里竞技20%的股权，成为第一个投资主要欧洲足球队的中国公司。

"It is too early to say whether or not Chinese investment in European soccer will be a good thing or not," said Simon Chadwick, a professor of Sports Enterprise at the University of Salford in Manchester. "At one level, Chinese money may enable clubs to compete more effectively, but China's relative lack of experience in soccer club management may potentially be an obstacle to success."

“现在还太早，不能说中国对欧洲足球的投资是好是坏，”索尔福德大学体育事业部教授Simon Chadwick说，“从一定层面上来讲，中国的资金也许能使球队竞争力更强，但是中国对足球俱乐部相关管理经验的匮乏可能会成为成功的障碍。”