1BSPORTS 1B Sports June 10th News Three years after being forced to sell Chelsea, Abu spoke out for the first time about the sale of the club and said that he could not buy Chelsea or other teams.
The new book “Sanctions: The Insider of Chelsea Football Club Sales” was released, depicting Abu’s secret and tireless participation in negotiations, including the day after he was poisoned in his Kiev apartment. Abu sold the club to the Burleigh-Cheung Lake Capital Consortium in May 2022, with £2.5 billion in proceeds deposited into a frozen UK bank account, which is said to be donated to charities supporting victims of the Ukrainian conflict.
Abu agreed to be interviewed for the book, and also revealed that he would never want to own another club after losing Chelsea. In 2003, he acquired Chelsea for £140 million, opening an era of bumper trophy harvest.
Asked about Chelsea and the future, Abu said: “Maybe someday situation will allow me to watch the game live and say goodbye officially, but that’s all.”
“I have no interest in any role at a football club, and certainly not a professional role.”
“There may be something I can help youth training academies and young people, providing more opportunities for people from difficult backgrounds, if there are initiatives that can bring about change.”
“But as for club ownership or professional role, my life is over.”
Abu also said that he will not let himself be disturbed by allegations against him, including those from the British government. “There is an old saying in Russia, ‘Dogs are barking, but the caravan keeps moving’, which is very suitable for the situation here,” he also told the author of the book Nick Preval. “No matter what I do, people always accuse me of having some purpose. Ultimately, everything I do is just to try to help.”
Leave a Reply