On Thursday, in what was heavily advertised as a 'landmark moment' in Indian football, European giants and defending Premier League champions Manchester City joined hands with Mumbai City FC, agreeing to buy a 65% stake in the ISL club.
The deal, which makes Mumbai the eighth club to be part of the City Football Group (CFG) network, was announced amid much fanfare and inevitably brought with it the allure of limitless funds, and world class facilities.
While it remains to be seen exactly how much CFG actually invests in the club, and if there is even a trickle-down effect benefiting the rest of the country, India's former captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes exciting times are in store.