Roman Abramovich bid for Spanish club Valencia leaked by rival
Sanctioned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is in the running to buy LaLiga side Valencia after making an offer to the Spanish club’s owner Peter Lim.
Valencia are in financial trouble having announced losses of €31.2m in November for the last financial year. They have also projected losses of €36m for this season and owner Lim has already loaned the club €38m.
It’s those financial figures that have prompted interest from suitors with Lim actively trying to sell the club.
And one of those suitors is believed to be Abramovich, according to rival bidder Miguel Zorio. The local business magnate has been trying to take over Los Che for some time. And he has said that Lim has leaked Abramovich’s offer to the media.
Plaza Deportivo via Sport Witness report that Zorio this week sent out a letter to the media announcing he will be holding a press conference on April 27 to present his offer for the club.
“Peter Lim has tried to sell the club in London for €250m and has not succeeded,” he is reported as saying.
“Lately, he has leaked to international media that he has two purchase offers. Mine and that of the Russian oligarch of Chelsea.
“And from here, I tell him that either he puts €50m every year to compensate for the losses he generates or he sells to us. Whether he likes it or not.”
Abramovich is currently in the process of selling Chelsea. That process has yet to be finalised but the UK government are pushing for that deal to be done quickly.
Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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“I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners,” read an Abramovich statement last month.
He insisted the sale would not be “fast-tracked” but it’s understood government officials want a deal concluding quickly.
Raine Group, the merchant bank overseeing the sale process, extended the deadline last week. The Premier League have to give clearance for the four bidders. Only then are Raine able to put forward a preferred bidder to the government.
The remaining contenders must submit final offers for the Stamford Bridge club on April 14.
One of the consortiums chasing the club is from Steve Pagliuca, who co-owns the Boston Celtics. And Sky News says that Larry Tanenbaum, who chairs the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Canadian Tanenbaum also owns a number of North American sports teams including the Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Maple Leafs.
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