| In Israel, it has not yet been possible to replenish its ranks Roman Abramovich has not given up on the idea of creating a global football monopoly. So far, things are not going too smoothly. After the sensational purchase of London's Chelsea, as well as Sibneft's high-profile sponsorship contract with CSKA, Abramovich is unable to expand his football holdings. So far, another attempt by the Russian oligarch in Israel has not been crowned with success.
A step towards expanding the football empire of the Chukotka governor was negotiations on the purchase of one of the Israeli clubs. The most likely option that interested Abramovich and his partners was Maccabi from Tel Aviv. According to Haaretz, a group of investors led by a Russian oligarch met with club president Loni Hercikovic and offered to buy the team for 6 million euros and pay off Maccabi’s debts, which amount to 25 million euros.
Traditionally, the management of the team from Tel Aviv disowned all contacts regarding the sale of the team. However, Maccabi Tel Aviv is not Abramovich’s only option. The ground was tested in many Israeli clubs for a possible acquisition. Including in another popular Maccabi, now from Haifa, preliminary negotiations with the leadership of which, according to the Israeli online publication Ynet, took place back in February. Moreover, they took place through the mediation of Abramovich’s confidant in all football matters, Pini Zehavi, a close friend and consultant of the owner of Maccabi Haifa, Yaakov Shahar.
By the way, it is worth dwelling on the person of Pini Zahavi in more detail. The Israeli agent is a central figure in all of Abramovich's football deals. Without Zahavi, who is friends with Manchester United head coach Alex Ferguson and England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, not a single major transaction on the British transfer market can be completed. The transfers of Rio Ferdinand, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham took place through the mediation of an Israeli agent. It was Zahavi who negotiated on behalf of Roman Abramovich about the purchase of Tottenham, and when they reached a dead end, he switched to Chelsea. He also introduced the Russian billionaire to the highest football society, organizing lunches and dinners with many famous people, including Erickson.
Zahavi also “lit up” during contacts between certain Russian businessmen and the Italian Roma. Let us remind you that the deal to sell the Italian club fell through at the last moment. But the Italian media are still confident that it was Roman Abramovich who was behind the negotiations on the purchase of the Roma football club. Andrey VDOVIN |
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