http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,125181,00.html?
ROMAN Abramovich's riches have sparked the rise of Chelsea Football
Club.
But, now, his estranged wife, Irina, may well bring about the
Blues' downfall.
Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner has divorced his wife of 15
years and the mother of his five children.
It is believed Abramovich's alleged close relationship with Russian
socialite Daria Zhukova, 25, was the cause of the split.
According to his spokesman, John Mann, Abramovich and Irina
'divorced in Russia on a consensual basis and have agreed terms in
respect of arrangements for their children and a financial
settlement'.
The settlement is reportedly worth an estimated US$300 million
($462m), said a Russian newspaper.
Apart from the settlement, Irina can also have her pick of
Abramovich's luxury aircrafts, cars and mansions.
And Chelsea may soon feel the pain.
It is interesting to note that whatever Irina wanted, she
got.
Behind the demure Russian blonde is a woman with tremendous charm
and tenacity.
It was she who persuaded Andriy Shevchenko's wife, Kristin, to talk
the Ukrainian striker into a 30 million ($90m) move to Stamford
Bridge - a feat even seasoned negotiators like Abramovich and
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon failed to accomplish after
three years.
And it was she who insisted that her husband table a 100m bid for a
40m mansion in west London just because she likes the art
collection in it.
But, now, Irina's charm and determination are focused against,
rather than for, her husband.
So what about Chelsea?
While Mann insisted Abramovich's 'corporate interests, including
Chelsea Football Club' would not be affected by the divorce
proceedings, the reality is that the picture can be grim for
Chelsea.
MASSIVE INVESTMENT
Three years ago, at the height of his riches, Abramovich poured a
massive investment into resurrecting the ailing London club.
He wiped out the Blues' 80m debt in one stroke, and pumped in an
estimated 490m (so far) to turn Chelsea into major players on the
European stage.
He made available huge transfer funds - 276m so far - to strengthen
the team, and bankrolled the signings of expensive world-class
players like Shevchenko, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Michael
Essien and Petr Cech.
With new-found riches, Chelsea dominated English football for two
seasons.
Recently, though, Abramovich's interest for football - and Chelsea
- seemed to have abated.
In an interview in December, he said he will not spend
extravagantly in the transfer market anymore.
It sparked a bitter feud between Abramovich and Chelsea manager
Jose Mourinho, and the rift is now reportedly irreparable.
There were reports of the Russian mulling over a possible purchase
of a Formula One racing team, as well as a National Basketball
Association franchise.
All these led to suggestions that Abramovich may have grown bored
with football, and with Chelsea.
And, now, with his personal fortune down significantly because of
his divorce, Abramovich will soon need to prioritise which toys to
keep and which to discard.
On one hand, he has an armada of super yachts, an array of private
jets - including a Boeing 767 airliner - several helicopters, a
fleet of luxury cars, and a portfolio of luxurious mansions around
the world.
On the other, he is itching to get started on new projects.
Would he have time for a football club led by a pesky Portuguese
who talks too much and keeps getting on his nerves?
Without Roman's financial support, Chelsea may go into free fall.
And Irina may not be around to save the Blues.
It would be pretty interesting to see the rise and fall of Chelsea
link to a woman. But well, it is the 21st Century, and they
rule..
