Abramovich announces he will sell Chelsea
Roman Abramovich has announced he intends to sell Chelsea.
The Blues remain among the favourites for the Champions League, as the odds on offer at the best au online casino show, but the news will sadden many fans.
It comes after Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss claimed he had been offered the chance to buy Chelsea and that Abramovich is looking to sell the club.
Members of parliament have argued that the Russian should not be allowed to own Chelsea in light of his his country’s invasion of Ukraine and his alleged links to Russia president Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich bought the Blues in 2003 for £140m and has established them as a powerhouse of English football with around £1.5bn in loans. He says he will not seek for those loans to be repaid.
In a statement, he said: “I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC.
“As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.
“The sale of the club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid.
“This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club. Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated.
“The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.
“Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the club.
“I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements. Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.”
During Abramovich’s tenure Chelsea have won the Champions League twice, both the Premier League and FA Cup five times, the Europa League twice and the League Cup three times.
And according to French casinos that success is likely to continue despite the change of regime.
