Chelsea - 'World Soccer' article in December issue.

[Bigpapa42]

Now this isn't an accusation towards Chelsea, so please actually read the post before you blast it. I am simply curious at the opinions of Chelsea supporters regarding this.

I was reading an article in "World Soccer" magazine on the "First 500 Days of the Russian Revolution" since Abramovich took over the club. Interesting article that isn't really overly positive or negative. I don't know about the accuracy, but it seems relatively legitimate. And while it doesn't focus on it, it does mention the influence of Israeli super-agent Pini Zahavi and his influence with Abramovich not only buying the team, but also on players brought in.

The article seems to indicate that former manage Claudio Ranieri had little to no control over players who were brought in when Abramovich first took over, often at large purchase costs. Some of the early buys were players who are still contributors under Mourinho. But some - particularly the combined 28m paid out for Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo - are not. Several of these players, including Veron, Crespo, and Geremi, are respresented by agents thought to be close associates of Zahavi.

Which brings up several questions. One - who was recommending players to Chelsea at that point? And two - if Chelsea did over pay for questionable players, why and who is benefiting?

Paying out that amount of money for two players who are loaned out, with no discernable future with the club and unlikely to generate enough sale profit to cover more than a portion of the initial investment, would ruin many clubs. Not so with Chelsea. It is simply a waste of money for a club that can afford to do that more than any other. But it is still curious.

I don't know enough about the entire situation to make a real judgement, which is why I am asking for the opinions of supporters. Was something fishy going on or is the magazine article simply making something out of nothing?

[Clan]

Now this isn't an accusation towards Chelsea, so please actually read the post before you blast it. I am simply curious at the opinions of Chelsea supporters regarding this.

I was reading an article in "World Soccer" magazine on the "First 500 Days of the Russian Revolution" since Abramovich took over the club. Interesting article that isn't really overly positive or negative. I don't know about the accuracy, but it seems relatively legitimate. And while it doesn't focus on it, it does mention the influence of Israeli super-agent Pini Zahavi and his influence with Abramovich not only buying the team, but also on players brought in.

SNIP


I read that article, in fact i have the mag right in front of me somewhere on this 'puter desk.
A good article indeed, and yes, it does bring up some interesting points that are neither easy to prove or refute.

Only the man himself knows the answers.

[yasik19]

Now this isn't an accusation towards Chelsea, so please actually read the post before you blast it. I am simply curious at the opinions of Chelsea supporters regarding this.

I was reading an article in "World Soccer" magazine on the "First 500 Days of the Russian Revolution" since Abramovich took over the club. Interesting article that isn't really overly positive or negative. I don't know about the accuracy, but it seems relatively legitimate. And while it doesn't focus on it, it does mention the influence of Israeli super-agent Pini Zahavi and his influence with Abramovich not only buying the team, but also on players brought in.

The article seems to indicate that former manage Claudio Ranieri had little to no control over players who were brought in when Abramovich first took over, often at large purchase costs. Some of the early buys were players who are still contributors under Mourinho. But some - particularly the combined 28m paid out for Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo - are not. Several of these players, including Veron, Crespo, and Geremi, are respresented by agents thought to be close associates of Zahavi.

Which brings up several questions. One - who was recommending players to Chelsea at that point? And two - if Chelsea did over pay for questionable players, why and who is benefiting?

Paying out that amount of money for two players who are loaned out, with no discernable future with the club and unlikely to generate enough sale profit to cover more than a portion of the initial investment, would ruin many clubs. Not so with Chelsea. It is simply a waste of money for a club that can afford to do that more than any other. But it is still curious.

I don't know enough about the entire situation to make a real judgement, which is why I am asking for the opinions of supporters. Was something fishy going on or is the magazine article simply making something out of nothing?

Perhaps another anti-semitic conspiracy theory

[Dave_M]

The obvious antithesis to this:

If Roman was under pressure to buy player he knew he had no use for, so that some agents of an old friend could beneift, would it not me more cost effective to just give them the projected profits as a gift?

[nicephoras]

This isn't financial misdoings. Russian oligarchs have formed so many better vehicles for hiding assets that doing it this way would be ludicrous.
Either Zahavi has a lot of influence with Roman, or Ranieri liked Italians. Given what he has done at Valencia, bringing in 4 Italian players this year, that seems the more likely scenario. (Italian for us being from the SerieA, of course.)

[mst77]

I seem to remember there being a decent amount of press regarding Zahavi after the takeover and I did think it a bit shady that we had an agent who could bend the ear of our owner. I believe the speculation was that Zahavi was also chums with Sven and was recommending players to Roman that Sven would want upon taking over from Claudio. In fact I even think that Zahavi was present at the "informal" meeting that Sven attended at Roman's digs.

[Bigpapa42]

Perhaps another anti-semitic conspiracy theory

I would hope that it wouldn't be anything so petty as that. It really dosen't focus on the fact that he is Israeli and doesn't really attack him in any way. It just questions his involvement with the team, which seems significant but is not directly addressed by the club. The article even has a sidebar on him and his career, how he is considered a prime mover in the sport yet still manages to stay behind the scenes and out of the public's conscienceness.

I doubt that Abramovich was making the decisions on these deals, and if he was, he was certainly getting advice from someone. It could be something so simple as getting bad advice on players.

The side-bar on Zahavi points out that if he had brokered half the player transactions that Chelsea has made since Abramovich took over, he would have netted 10M. If it isn't Zahavi making these profits, someone probably is.

[Bigpapa42]

This isn't financial misdoings. Russian oligarchs have formed so many better vehicles for hiding assets that doing it this way would be ludicrous.
Either Zahavi has a lot of influence with Roman, or Ranieri liked Italians. Given what he has done at Valencia, bringing in 4 Italian players this year, that seems the more likely scenario. (Italian for us being from the SerieA, of course.)

Sorry, I wasn't quite sure what to title the thread. I figured that since its was possible that someone was profiting from Chelsea overpaying and/or making purchase mistakes, it could be considered taking money from Chelsea. I didn't mean to insinuate that Cheslea was really doing anything wrong or that Abramovich was using it to hide money.

And yes, Zahavi was apparenly photographed leaving the meeting with Sven.

[Clan]

On the other hand, it also credits Zahavi with being the main reason for landing both Kenyon and Mourinho!

It's a rather interesting read, with nothing concrete and plenty of facts that we already knew.

[the101er]

I would think Chelsea fans should wonder more about the cureent deals that are being made with CSKA and then this wierd multiplayer, multiteam deal that Abramovich is somehow linked to in South America.

[nicephoras]

I would think Chelsea fans should wonder more about the cureent deals that are being made with CSKA and then this wierd multiplayer, multiteam deal that Abramovich is somehow linked to in South America.

Supposedly he has publicly denied being involved in that Corinthians nonsense, but denials these days don't mean all that much...........