“Unlimited cash!” – Donald Trump meets Manchester City owner at Gaza peace summit | OneFootball

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has met with Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt on Monday.

The meeting came as part of a major diplomatic gathering involving more than 20 world leaders, convened to discuss the next steps in achieving long-term peace in Gaza.

Sheikh Mansour attended the summit as vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, while U.S. President Donald Trump led discussions alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The meeting marks a rare intersection between high-level geopolitics and global football ownership, drawing intrigue from political analysts and sports fans alike.

The summit in Sharm El-Sheikh follows a newly established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye playing key roles in brokering the pause in hostilities.

The aim of this latest round of talks is to transform that temporary truce into a sustainable framework for peace. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were among those in attendance, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not participate, citing proximity to a Jewish holiday.

For Sheikh Mansour, his appearance at the summit reflects his diplomatic role as part of the UAE’s leadership, far beyond his public association with football. Beyond his position as owner of Manchester City through the Abu Dhabi United Group, Mansour holds senior roles in multiple Emirati institutions, including the UAE Central Bank, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and the Mubadala Investment Company.

And meeting one another at the Gaza peace summit in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday, Sheikh Mansour was greeted by the President of the United States in Donald Trump.

“A lot of cash, unlimited cash,” Trump said whilst posting for photos and pointing to Sheikh Mansour alongside him. The President of the USA continued, “And he’s a good man, too!”

The exchange quickly drew attention on social media, with Trump’s remarks sparking both amusement and criticism. For City fans, the moment served as an unusual reminder of the club’s far-reaching ownership ties and its influence at the very top of international politics.

Sheikh Mansour’s investment in Manchester City since 2008 has transformed the club into one of football’s modern powerhouses, winning eight Premier League titles and a first UEFA Champions League crown in 2023.

Looking ahead, Mansour’s presence at such a high-profile summit could reinforce Manchester City’s growing global reach – particularly as the club expands its commercial and political footprint through the City Football Group.

It may also reignite debate around the concept of “sportswashing,” with critics questioning whether football success is being used to soften perceptions of controversial political practices.

Nonetheless, the image of Sheikh Mansour standing alongside the U.S. President during talks of international peace underscores his standing as a figure of both sporting and diplomatic weight. Whether this encounter yields any lasting impact beyond symbolic significance remains to be seen.