Qatar Sports Investment bought Ligue 1 club Paris St Germain in 2011, subsequently pumping vast amounts of money into the club.

The financial backing has cemented PSG’s place as the dominant force in French football – they have won Ligue 1 for the past two seasons – while also helping to establish the club as one of Europe’s most fearsome teams.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Qatar’s sports minister, Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, claimed he was interested in branching into other leagues, perhaps buying a top-flight English club.

“We have a special team for the investment,” al-Ali added: “They are good business people.

“They are learning. They are getting better and better.

“They are investigation all opportunities, I think in America, in England and everywhere.

“I don’t think we are going to stop.”