Star architect Rafael Vinoly is believed to have been approached to mastermind a transformation of the City of Manchester stadium into the world’s leading football complex.

The brief for the 200 acre development will include extending the current 48,000 capacity stadium alongside a state-of-the-art training complex, five-star hotel, sports and leisure centres, restaurants and bars.

City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mulbarak also want to make the east Manchester area a tourist attraction and it is possible that the development will also include a museum and art gallery.

Vinoly became a business associate of the City chairman when he designed the Mina Zayed waterfront project in Abu Dhabi.