Roman Abramovich. /
war in the east
Abramóvich puts Chelsea up for sale, while Everton has suspended its sponsorship contracts with the Russian oligarch Usmanov
The invasion of Ukraine has caused a real earthquake in the Premier League, a competition in which the tentacles of the Russian oligarchs were widespread. Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea since 2003, has begun to sound out buyers for the Stamford Bridge club, while Everton announced on Wednesday that it is canceling all sponsorship deals it had with billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Metal magnate of Uzbek origin who has the third largest fortune in Russia, Usmanov was at the time a shareholder of Arsenal and until a few days ago he chaired the International Fencing Federation (FIE), a position he left after the European Union (EU) include him on the list of those sanctioned for the war in Eastern Europe, as he is a close ally of Vladimir Putin.
Swiss millionaire Hansjorg Wyss, 86, revealed on Wednesday that he is considering acquiring Chelsea, after being offered to make an offer for the reigning European champion due to retaliation launched by the United Kingdom in response to the aggression suffered by Ukraine, which has put Abramóvich on the ropes, the man who ruled the destiny of the ‘blues’ until last Saturday he handed over the management of the entity to the Chelsea foundation.
Wyss, founder of the medical equipment manufacturing company Synthes, told the Swiss newspaper ‘Blick’ that he was contacted along with three other people to see his willingness to buy Chelsea. “Abramóvich is part of the closest circle of advisers and friends of Putin,” said Wyss. “Like all the other oligarchs, he is scared. He wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly », influenced the businessman and philanthropist based in the United States, whose fortune exceeds 5,000 million euros.
“I want to reflect for another four or five days. Abramovich asks a lot at this moment. Chelsea owes him 2 billion pounds (2.4 billion euros), but Chelsea has no money. It means that those who buy Chelsea must compensate Abramóvich, “explained Wyss, who in any case would look for more partners to tackle the operation.
Abramóvich has promised to donate the profits from the sale of Chelsea to help the victims of the war in Ukraine and has assured that he will not ask for the repayment of the loans he has made to the club over the years
Despite the good sporting health enjoyed by Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel took command of the team and led him to raise the ‘orejona’ in May last year, after beating Manchester City in the Champions League final played in Porto, the acquisition of the club would entail an astronomical investment for its new owners. To the sale price should be added the cost of the reform of Stamford Bridge, which amounts to about 2,700 million euros.
According to Sky News, Abramóvich, who in 2003 paid 200 million euros to acquire Chelsea, intends to get at least 3,000 million pounds (more than 3,600 million euros) for his sale 19 years later. The tycoon has promised to donate the profits from the sale to help the victims of the war in Ukraine and has assured that he will not ask for the repayment of the loans he has made to the club over the years, which amount to some 2,400 million of euros. “In the current situation I have made the decision to sell the club, as I believe it is the best for the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the sponsors and partners,” said the oligarch in the statement confirming his decision to dispose of the entity.
economic blow
Meanwhile, Everton have severed ties with USM, Megafon and Yota, companies in which Alisher Usmanov owns significant stakes. “Everyone at Everton is saddened by the horrible events taking place in Ukraine (…) The club can confirm that it is suspending all commercial sponsorship contracts with USM, Megafon and Yota companies with immediate effect,” the note said. broadcast this Wednesday by the ‘toffees’.
An Arsenal shareholder from 2007 to 2018, Usmanov was one of Everton’s main sponsors and the USM conglomerate gave its name to the ‘toffees’ training center. In addition, he had an option worth 36 million euros to baptize the London club’s new stadium with the name of one of his companies, which will replace Goodison Park, will have a capacity for 52,888 spectators and should be finished by the start of the season. campaign 2024-25.
But Usmanov, who made his fortune in the metallurgical industry, was included by the EU in the list of oligarchs sanctioned for their ties with Putin – in which Abramovich does not appear at the moment – and Everton has chosen to break the ties that they united him with the billionaire. Alisher Usmanov is a pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He actively supported materially or financially the Russian decision makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine”, outlined the statement in which the EU Council froze his assets.
In addition to these movements, Manchester United has broken the contract it had with the airline Aeroflot, which reported some 48 million euros to the ‘red devils’. Another blow to the Premier, whose economic health had already been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
