Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be a pariah in his native Thailand, where the military regime that overthrew his government last year has accused him of profiteering and seized his bank accounts, but the billionaire is managing to use his wealth in the U.K.
Last month Thaksin completed the $175 million takeover of struggling U.K. soccer club Manchester City, the unglamorous and often derided neighboring club of Manchester United. Although some observers criticized the deal and questioned the source of his funds, the new owner won over many of the club’s long-suffering fans by lavishing $100 million on new players from Italy, Portugal and even Thailand. Earlier this month several thousand fans gathered in the city center for a concert and cheered as the former prime minister sang the club’s anthem, “Blue Moon.”
