March 01, (THEWILL) – Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich is expected to receive and possibly consider proposals for the club, with potential bidders believing that he will be willing to sell the reigning UEFA Champions League holders.
As THEWILL reported on Saturday, Abramovich declared that he was handing over direct management of the club to trustees of Chelsea’s charity foundation. After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the 55-year-old Russian billionaire found himself at the centre of a debate in London over Russia’s influence.
In his Saturday statement, Abramovich stated that he was “giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.”
Though the immediate consequences of such a move are unknown and it will require some regulatory approval, it was a move that was interpreted as strategic to protect the club from any sanctions that may befall him due to his closeness to the government in Moscow.
Furthermore, Abramovich’s spokeswoman stated that the Chelsea owner was involved in peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian government, as THEWILL reported.
However, bids are being readied for the end of the week since Abramovich’s ownership of the club may be brought into doubt if the situation does not improve. It is unknown what Abramovich’s posture will be especially with the possibility of having his assets frozen or seized.
What is certain is that his decision to delegate the handling of the club’s affairs to the Foundation has prompted possible purchasers to increase their determination to acquire the club. There are indications that the Russian oligarch has already turned down bids of up to £2.2 billion.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about the situation with Abramovich. He responded: “I have to say that’s a bit too much for me to answer.
“I’m not aware of any details, and I’m not aware of the whole situation. We all agree there are situations much, much more important than football. This will never change. And situations like war are of course so much more important. But the role of Mr. Abramovich is not for me to comment on, because I simply don’t know enough about it.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
