What do you think about buying a rival fan for your club? Well, it could happen with Chelsea, who today (29) received an offer of 4.25 billion pounds from billionaire Jim Ratcliffe (more than 26 billion Brazilian reals). The value equates to less than a third of the personal wealth of an individual, who already has extensive experience investing in sports.
Ratcliffe was once the UK’s richest person in 2018, but has fallen to fifth on the list. He was already knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and his fortune exceeded 16 billion dollars, according to Forbes magazine (about 80 billion Brazilian reals). He made his living in petrochemicals, being the founder and owner of giant Ineos, a conglomerate that produces everything from plastics and synthetic oils to chemicals used in antibiotics.
To get an idea of the size of your wealth, a quick calculation. The value of the offer to Chelsea is roughly what Jim Ratcliffe has saved in annual taxes since he moved to Monaco from England in 2020. The principality is a haven for billionaires due to its lower taxes compared to neighboring countries, so Ratcliffe’s business now collects £4 billion less in tax. Practically speaking, he could buy one Chelsea a year with just this tax maneuver.
The billionaire is a recognized fan of Manchester United, but disappointment with the current management makes him prefer to put the money elsewhere. “We don’t want to be the dumb money guys. [United] “They’re in trouble from a business point of view: they don’t get a proper coach, they don’t buy well and they spend poorly on players,” Ratcliffe said in an interview with the newspaper. times.
Ineos’ interest in the sport gained momentum in 2017, with the purchase of his first football club: FC Lausanne, from Switzerland. The following year, the group acquired a team from the America’s Cup, the world’s most famous yachting race. Then came the turn of the best cycling team in England.
Today, Ratcliffe owns the Nice team, from France, and also the Ivorian team, Racing Club Abidjan, which serves almost as a center of attraction for players for European clubs. In this structure, Chelsea will be the fourth piece in this football network, but without a doubt the most important. The bid offer includes £2.5 billion of transactions and another £1.75 billion for investment over the next 10 years.
Another big investment by Ineos is in Formula 1. The group bought 33% of the Mercedes team in December 2020, for a secret value. No wonder the cars display the Ineos in such a prominent place, and Ratcliffe was bathed in champagne by Lewis Hamilton on the podium at last year’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Chelsea FC was put up for sale last month after the British government imposed sanctions on Abramovich for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ratcliffe’s interest comes two weeks after the bid deadline expires, and the English club has yet to comment on whether the bid will be considered.
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