Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich confirmed the rumor on Wednesday evening March 2 that he was selling Chelsea football club, which he has owned since 2003. “In the current situation, I have decided to sell him, as I believe it is in the best interests of his supporters, his employees, as well as his sponsors and partners. »
The 55-year-old billionaire, known to be close to Putin, assured that ” all ” proceeds from the sale of one of England’s most successful clubs – five-time League Cup winners – will go, as part of a charitable foundation, “to all the victims of the war in Ukraine. (…) . It was never about business or money for me, but pure passion for the game and the club. »
Real estate heritage for sale
the Financial Times confirms that the investment bank Raine is sounding the reminder of potential buyers. According to Daily Telegraph, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and US investor Todd Boehly are reportedly ready to team up to make a takeover bid. The British media add that Mr. Abramovich, who amassed his fortune in the 1990s, like many other oligarchs, by buying up oil and gas assets at a low price, is also seeking to sell his London real estate assets. Potential buyers would have visited 16 Kensington Palace Gardens, a superb residence close to the Russian Embassy, in the famous “Billionaires’ Alley”, reputed to be the most expensive in London, just behind Kensington Palace. Mr Abramovich acquired it for £90m (€108m) in 2011 and is said to have spent tens of millions more to redevelop it.
According to Daily MailMr Abramovich hopes to make at least £3billion from the sale of the west London club, in which he has invested hundreds of millions of pounds over the past eighteen years. But the transaction could be complicated: the businessman is not yet on the list of nine oligarchs sanctioned by the government of Boris Johnson, but the political pressure is mounting very strongly so that this close to the Kremlin is also punished at the most quickly – so that his British assets are frozen.
“But why is he still not sanctioned? »
On February 24, Labor MP Chris Bryant pointed to a confidential Home Department document from 2019 establishing that the billionaire was “linked to the Russian state” and “corrupt activities and practices”. Mardi 1is mars, using his “parliamentary privilege” (allowing an elected official to quote people in the Commons without risking libel suits), Mr Bryant warned of Mr Abramovich’s supposed intentions to sell “his house and another London apartment”, “because he is terrified of being punished” and the chosen one has urged the government to act before the billionaire possibly tries to squeeze the proceeds of his sales out of the UK. “But why is he still not sanctioned? also protested Keir Starmer, Labor leader, on Wednesday.
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