Esporte Clube Bahia president Khaldoon Al Mubarak says the project is in the early stages, but on the right path. He highlighted the evolution and professionalization of Brazilian football as elements that justify the investment in Bahia. The manager also mentioned the expectation around the project and believes it will be another great success story for Grupo City. Bahia sold 90% of its SAF to Grupo City in a 90-year deal, signed in 2023. Since then, the club has paid off its debts and started building a new training center, which will cost around R$ 300 million. On the pitch, the team won three Campeonato Baiano titles and one Copa do Nordeste in this period. Additionally, Bahia competed in the Libertadores in two consecutive seasons for the first time in history and broke the record of best campaign in the Campeonato Brasileiro points system twice. Currently, however, the Tricolor has come from two early eliminations (Libertadores and Copa do Brasil) and reached eight games without a win in the season, something that ended last Saturday when they beat Botafogo in the Campeonato Brasileiro. With this, the work of coach Rogério Ceni has received criticism from the fans, who will only be able to follow Bahia on the pitch at the end of July, with the return of the Brasileirão after the Copa do Mundo de seleções.