CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich has resisted the chance to sell the club and insists it’s not for sale.
A mega-rich Middle East consortium proposed a potential takeover offer but it was shrugged off by the Russian, according to the Telegraph.
There have been rumours that the billionaire businessman was looking to sell since the UK tightened its regulations on visas for wealthy foreign nationals.
He has since barely been seen at Chelsea matches since sparking speculation that he is losing his interest in the club he purchased in 2003.
Abramovich also put plans to develop Stamford Bridge on hold amid spiralling costs of 1billion.
But it appears he has no plans to leave his 16-year project any time soon.
It is claimed that Abramovich has been approached by a number of potential buyers including Sir Jim Ratcliffe – once Britain’s richest man.
Ratcliffe already owns Swiss club FC Lausanne-Sport but sources close to Abramovich insist it is “not for sale.”
But the report also claims that the Russian will only start entertaining offers if he receives a bid in the region of 3bn.
Abramovich purchased Chelsea outright for 140m but history could have been so different had he decided to buy rivals Tottenham.
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed how he swayed his final decision because he would only have to “change half the team”.
Recalling the tale, Eriksson toldThe Times: We met at Les Ambassadeurs [a casino and club in London].
“There were three men standing there. One is properly dressed, the other is so-so and the third, I thought he was the driver. Of course that was Roman.
He wanted to buy a club in Moscow so we went to Moscow for three days. We saw all the clubs and I said buy Dinamo. They had the best facilities.
I went on holiday and his right-hand man phoned. Roman changed his mind. He wants to buy a club in London.
“Tottenham or Chelsea? I said, What does he want to do? He said he wants to win.
“I said, So buyChelsea. You have to change half the team. Tottenham you have to change the whole team.”
