The possibility that Roman Abramovich ceases to be the owner of Chelsea is increasing. To the problems that the Russian oligarch faces with the United Kingdom has been added the declared intention of a Swiss billionaire to take over the club if Abramovich twists his arm and sells the club.
Hansjörg Wyss , who has a fortune of more than 4 billion pounds ($5.34 billion dollars), offered to negotiate for the Stamford Bridge club in what could indicate a complete change of course for the European champion.
“Abramovich is trying to sell his assets in England , and he also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly,” Wyss told the Swiss newspaper Blick. “On Tuesday, three people and I received an offer to buy the club. Now I have to wait four or five days. Abramovich asks too much and, as you know, Chelsea owes him 2 billion pounds ($2.67 billions of dollars) or something like that, but they don’t have money to pay him”.
The Swiss is referring to the more than 1.5 billion pounds ($2 billion) that Abramovich has lent to Chelsea since he bought it for less than 100 million pounds ($133 million dollars) in 2003. Since his arrival, being one of the first billionaires to land in European football, Chelsea has gone from being just another team from the noble part of England to one of the greats on the continent, with 18 titles under his mandate, including two Champions Leagues.
But the war of Russia in Ukraine has disrupted a leadership that came full circle a few weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, with the conquest of the Club World Cup. The last title that was missing from Abramovich’s list of winners and, perhaps, the last, in general.
Roman Abramovich will receive bids to buy Chelsea this week and will consider selling the club for the first time since becoming owner in 2003, per @Matt_Law_DT pic.twitter.com/wcfxTYrYOd— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 1, 2022
Abramovich’s relationship with Putin
His complicated situation in the United Kingdom, which did not renew his investor visa in 2018, has intensified in recent days as a result of his close and always denied relationship with Vladimir Putin. From the House of Commons Abramovich has been accused of being a close collaborator of Putin and has been asked to seize the assets he owns in the United Kingdom, such as the mansion of more than 150 million pounds ($200 million dollars) in central London, and not be allowed to run a club like Chelsea.
MP Chris Bryant warned on Tuesday that the oligarch is beginning to look for buyers for its assets, and that it is necessary to act quickly in terms of sanctions. Wyss’s words only confirm this.
“I can imagine running Chelsea together with some partners, but I have to look at the general conditions first. What I’m definitely not going to do is go into something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, it will be with a consortium of six or seven investors,” said Wyss.
Abramovich’s decision to leave the administration in the hands of the club’s foundation, which has doubts about this move is yet another indication of the increasing distance with which the Russian sees the club he has managed in the last fourteen years.
Wyss, from 86 years old, made his fortune at the medical multinational Synthes. He has been characterized in recent years by his large donations to charities and environmental works. As reported by New York Times in 2018, his contribution to works in favor of the environment is above 1 billion euros ($1.11 billions of dollars).
You can also read:
– Consequences of the war: Adidas stops sponsoring Russia after 14 years
– Fair decision? World Boxing Council punishes fighters from Russia and Belarus
– International Judo vetoes Vladimir Putin as honorary president and ambassador
– Roman Abramovich relinquishes control of Chelsea after Russia’s attack on Ukraine
– Zinchenko and Mykolenko: Ukraine tears during Everton vs. Manchester City
– Klitschko Brothers: from world boxing champions to join the war against Russia