Roman Abramovich to Reveal Details of Chelsea Sale in New Book
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is set to give a rare insight into the £2.5 billion sale of the club in 2022 in a new book, after conducting his first interview in four years. According to a report by the BBC, Abramovich has spoken candidly about the deal, which saw the club sold to American consortium Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, in a two-part interview.
The interviews, which took place in Abu Dhabi in January and in Istanbul a year prior, also cover Abramovich’s account of his initial takeover of Chelsea FC in 2004, the sanctions imposed upon him by the UK Government due to alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, and his suspected poisoning in March 2022. As the BBC reports, Abramovich’s most recent interview before this was with Forbes in March 2021, and he had not given an official interview since 2006.
The book, titled "Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC", is written by Nick Purewal and will be released by Biteback Publishing this summer. The BBC states that the book will tell the story of the accelerated 95-day sale of the club, which was run by Raine Bank under the supervision of the UK government. Abramovich has remained sanctioned by the UK Government since the invasion of Ukraine, and the funds from the sale of the club remain frozen in a bank account.
As the new owners of Chelsea continue to work towards qualifying for the Champions League and winning a trophy, Abramovich’s account of the sale of the club is set to provide a fascinating insight into the events that led up to the deal. The BBC reports that Abramovich’s interview also covers his efforts in the previous peace process, and his thoughts on the current state of the club.
The sale of Chelsea FC was a significant event in the world of football, and Abramovich’s account of the deal is eagerly anticipated. As the BBC notes, Abramovich had previously only made a short statement in January 2021 about Frank Lampard’s sacking and statements about Chelsea’s ‘Say No to Anti-Semitism’ campaign.
According to the BBC, the book "Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC" will provide a detailed and intimate account of the sale of Chelsea FC, and Abramovich’s experiences as the owner of the club. The BBC quotes Abramovich’s interview, which provides a unique perspective on the events that have unfolded at Chelsea FC in recent years.
The book is set to be a major publication this summer, and football fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating Abramovich’s account of the sale of Chelsea FC. As reported by the BBC, Abramovich’s interview is a rare and candid insight into the world of football, and the events that have shaped the sport in recent years.