Abramovich just offered to sell Chelsea, says Swiss billionaire Wyss
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss says he received an offer to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich alongside a group of several others.
Abramovich has come under increasing pressure over the past week following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, with Labor MP Chris Bryant saying the Chelsea owner was ‘terrified’ of facing sanctions of the British government.
The Blues owner has already released a statement saying the trustees of Chelsea’s charitable foundation will strip him of ‘stewardship’ of the club indefinitely, but Wyss says he is part of a group trying to buy the club out Russian businessman.
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Who is Wyss?
Wyss is a Swiss-born businessman who currently resides in the United States. He made his fortune as the founder and former chairman and president of Synthes USA, a medical device manufacturer.
The 86-year-old has a reported net worth of over $5 billion and has been named one of the “world’s most philanthropic people” by Forbes.
Wyss has donated millions to environmental causes in recent years and his charitable organization Wyss Foundation has over $2 billion in assets.
What was said?
“Abramovich is one of Putin’s closest advisers and friends,” Wyss said. Blick. “Like all the other oligarchs, he is also in a panic. Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly. Me and three other people received an offer to buy Chelsea from Abramovich on Tuesday.
“I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is asking way too much right now. You know, Chelsea owe him £2 billion. But Chelsea have no money. That means whoever buys Chelsea would have to compensate Abramovich.
He continued: “To date, we do not know the exact sale price. I can imagine myself starting at Chelsea with partners. But first I have to look at the terms and conditions. But what I can already say: I’m definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then with a consortium of six to seven investors.”