Just days after handing over the control of Chelsea FC to its charitable foundation and trustees, owner Roman Abramovich has made the incredibly difficult decision to sell the club entirely after 19 years.
Abramovich released a heartfelt statement on Wednesday and revealed that all net proceeds will be donated to the people of Ukraine after the horrific attacks from Vladimir Putin and Russia. Via Chelseafc.com:
The sale of the Chelsea 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 Chelsea.
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.
Quite the statement from Roman Abramovich, who has been criticized in recent days because of his relationship with Putin. It was already expected that the Chelsea owner could face sanctions from the UK government because of his involvement with Russia.
Abramovich actually loaned $2 billion to the club but he's not expecting the Blues to repay him. Instead, all the proceeds are going to Ukraine, as mentioned above. Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss has already shown an interest in purchasing the club, while UFC star Conor McGregor even said he's keen on buying Chelsea.
It will be interesting to see who eventually wins the sweepstakes.
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