Report: Roman Abramovich currently without UK visa
Chelsea's newfound frugality might not just be down to stadium construction costs and a want to see returns from investment into the youth academy.
Roman Abramovich, the club's owner since 2003, has yet to be issued a new visa by British authorities, and it's not clear whether the businessman will be given fresh paperwork, according to accounts from Russian media and acquaintances of Abramovich gathered by the Guardian's Andrew Roth.
It's understood Abramovich was in the country on an entrepreneurial visa that expired several weeks ago. The process to renew has been lagging, and the oligarch does not know why. A representative of Abramovich called the visa hold-up a "personal matter," but there are concerns it may be related to uneasy Anglo-Russian relations following the infamous poisoning of Russian secret agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in March.
The latest Sunday Times' Rich List estimated Abramovich's worth at £9.3 billion, making him the 13th-richest man in Britain. He's bankrolled the finest era in Chelsea's history, occupying the top seat during five Premier League titles, eight major domestic cups, and a Champions League triumph.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been visibly irked by what he perceives as inadequate investment into his playing squad this season, and outlets speculated a waning interest from Abramovich following reports that he wasn't willing to invest his own money into building a new stadium. That could result in Chelsea borrowing up to £850 million to cover the ground's construction. However, given Abramovich's reported visa struggles, the reasons for his reluctance to invest more capital away from his native Russia are clearer.
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Abramovich's visa issues were first reported by Russian news agency The Bell on Sunday, which claimed the Chelsea chief's Boeing 767 had last flown to London on April 1. He was not seen at the Blues' 1-0 win over Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley.