Football
Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Audios stolen from the Spanish soccer federation by hackers revealed Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué helped to negotiate a 24 million euros ($25.9 million) commission to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
The federation changed the format of the Super Cup in 2020, creating a “Final Four” and moving the competition to Saudi Arabia as part of a deal that was reportedly worth 40 million euros per tournament for the federation.
Piqué's Kosmos group would be paid four million euros per tournament by the Saudi organizers for negotiating the six-year agreement, according to El Confidencial newspaper, which released the audios on Monday.
Piqué said in the audios that the money would be divided between the clubs, and the federation would keep about six million euros.
The federation told El Confidencial there was nothing illegal in what was said in the audios or in the negotiations, and the details of the deal had already been released.
When the agreement was first announced, federation president Luis Rubiales said they would not pay any commission to Piqué.
The federation received a lot of criticism from human rights groups at the time for its decision to play in Saudi Arabia.
The Super Cup had to be played in Spain again in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The release of the audios came a few days after the federation said it was targeted by hackers who also stole emails, text messages and documents involving its top officials.
The federation said it believed the information was offered anonymously to media outlets in Spain. It said it asked authorities to investigate.
Also, Rubiales is accused of making some derogatory remarks about Atlético Madrid in some of the audios.
AFC Cup play off: Abahani to play Mohun Bagan on Tuesday
Six-time Bangladesh Premier League champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Indian giants ATK Mohun Bagan of Kolkata in the last and final play-off match of the AFC Cup 2022 at the Yuvo Bharati (Salt Lake) Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The neighbouring titans' battle will kick-off at 7:30 pm Bangladesh time
Striker Nabib Newaj Jibon will lead the sky-blue Dhaka Abahani while Pritom Kotal will captain the green-maroon Kolkata Mohun Bagan in Tuesday's vital match.
Also read: AFC Cup play-off: Dhaka Abahani to face Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on April 19
The winners of the match will join Gokulam Kerala FC (India), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives) in Group D of the AFC Cup main competition.
All the matches of Group D will be staged at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata from May 18 to May 24, 2022.
In previous two meetings, Dhaka Abahani conceded 1-3 goals defeat against Kolkata Mohun Bagan in their away match of the AFC Cup Football in Kolkata in 2017 while their home match against the same team ended in a 1-1 draw in Dhaka in the same year.
Earlier. the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani got a walkover against Club Valencia of the Maldives in their first play-off match of the AFC Cup with the latter withdrawing the team at the last minute due to funds crisis.
Also read: 2nd phase of BCL begins on Tuesday
Ahead of Tuesday's key match, Abahanis head coach Mario Lemos believes they are capable of beating Mohun Bagan Club on their soil.
ATK Mohun Bagan's head coach Juan Ferrando wants to focus on beating Bangladesh-side Abahani Dhaka in the last play-off round match of the 2022 AFC Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Mohun Bagan cruised past Sri Lanka's, Blue Star 5-0 in the second preliminary round of the 2022 AFC Cup last Tuesday with the Mariners thrashing their opponents courtesy of braces from Joni Kauko, Manvir Singh and a goal from David Williams.
Despite their resounding win last Tuesday, Ferrando reiterated that the playoff game against Dhaka Abahani is like a final and that it is very important for his side to focus on the all-important clash.
Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
The FA Cup 2022 final will take place in less than four weeks, and there may be some tweaks in the scenario for both teams. One or two injuries could determine the ultimate favourite just before the crucial finals because both Liverpool and Chelsea are very competitive. An early prediction can be made for the Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 match given each side's present form. This will be the second final meeting between these two teams this season. The squad strength of both Liverpool and Chelsea is discussed in this article.
Analysis of Liverpool’s squad and ideal formation
Liverpool now have one of the best squads in European club football. Jurgen Klopp, in particular, deserves praise for his ability to train his athletes and turn them into machines. These players are well-suited to bringing Klopp's football philosophy to reality on the field. Jurgen is a heavy metal football fanatic. He pushes his players to press high and then return to defense once an attack is completed. That is why Liverpool's players are so aggressive in their approach to the opposition's defense. Klopp’s team can play in a traditional 4-4-2 formation or a 4-3-3 system if they prefer three players up front in the Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 FA Cup final match. Let’s take a glance at the Liverpool squad.
Read PSG beat Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Goalkeepers:
Alisson Becker is in charge of keeping an eye on Liverpool's goalposts. This Brazilian is one of the finest in the world, and his tactical game plan is ideal for Liverpool. Irish international, Caoimhin Kelleher, is another option for the Reds.
Defenders:
Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best defender in the world, is at the heart of Liverpool's defense. He, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, and Fabinho, can create a very tight Liverpool defense.
Midfielders:
Liverpool have a variety of midfield options to help their star-studded attacking line. Players like James Milner, Thiago, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are effective under Klopp's system.
Read Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Forwards:
Liverpool have no shortage of quality upfront. Salah, Mane, Firmino, and Jota are all good fits for Klopp's philosophy. They are part of a team that can destroy any team in the world on any given day.
Chelsea's squad analysis and preferred formation
Chelsea have a big squad with several talented players who fit Thomas Tuchel's coaching style. This German master strategist is noted for executing a well-suited plan that allows him to make the best use of his players. He loves to attack with wings for more precision, and he can rapidly adapt to another formation if required. He employs a variety of formations to make his players adaptable and well-equipped for any style. Tuchel's favourite systems are 3-4-3, 3-4-2-1, 4-1-4-1, and 4-2-3-1. Let's take a look at Chelsea's squad.
Read Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
Goalkeepers:
Arguably the finest goalkeeper in the world, Edouard Mendy, is in charge of Chelsea's goalposts. Spanish international Kepa Arrizabalaga is another alternative for the Blues.
Defenders:
Chelsea have a number of world-class defenders on its roster. The most prominent among them are Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and Cesar Azpilicueta. They may be extremely difficult to deal with for opposition forwards.
Midfielders:
Coach Thomas Tuchel's most trusted midfield choices are Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Saul. Their performances have been outstanding under the present coach.
Read Manchester City Double or Liverpool Quadruple: Which one seems more likely?
Forwards:
Chelsea's attacking line has some of the best players in the world. Romelu Lukaku is one of the top names. Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, and Kai Havertz are other well-equipped players in Tuchel's system.
Verdict
The battle on the field might influence the outcome, even if a team begins as the favourite prior to the match. This Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 match promises to be a tactical masterpiece for the coaches of both teams. Players may engage in physical conflict because neither team wants the other to have an easy time in the contest.
Chelsea have looked impressive under Thomas Tuchel's management despite injury concerns throughout the season. On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team has played fantastic football and is chasing a quadruple. Taking everything into account, Liverpool are probably the slight favourites to win the 2022 FA Cup championship match, which will be held on May 14.
Read Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
PSG beat Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain took a step closer to reclaiming the French league title after beating rival Marseille 2-1 on Sunday in a game lacking the intensity befitting their bitter rivalry and featuring two controversial decisions that went PSG's way.
Having lost the title to Lille last season, PSG is 15 points clear of second-place Marseille with six games left. Victory at Angers on Wednesday will seal the title for PSG if Marseille draws at home to Nantes; and a draw is enough if Marseille loses.
Also read:Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe scored in a subdued atmosphere at Parc des Princes, but Mbappe's penalty awarded deep into first-half injury time for 2-1 was questionable.
A video review gave hand ball against Valentin Rogier after the ball hit his elbow, even though it appeared to hit his thigh first. Mbappe scored with a low shot to the left for his league-leading 21st goal.
Marseille's players were angry when central defender William Saliba's goal in the 85th from Dimitri Payet's excellent free kick was ruled out for a very thin offside. The VAR call appeared to show Saliba's shoulder was just ahead of PSG's Danilo Pereira.
Marseille's defeat leaves it in second place — three points ahead of Rennes — and automatic Champions League qualification.
PSG is out of the Champions League and the players were fully rested to take on a Marseille side which played in Greece on Thursday to reach the Europa Conference League semifinals.
The visitors were comfortable until Italy midfielder Marco Verratti lofted a 12th-minute pass over the defense and Neymar was at full stretch to lob goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who misread the pass.
It was Neymar's seventh goal in the five games since PSG was knocked out of the Champions League by Read Madrid in the last 16.
But PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a mistake on a corner and, from the scramble, Croatia center half Duje Caleta-Car poked home in the 31st.
Record seven-time Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out for offside close to halftime.
PSG fans insulted Marseille's players throughout but did not back their own team, exasperated by another collapse from a strong position in the Champions League against Madrid last month.
“I wasn't expecting this atmosphere. It wasn't the right time to do this,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “We understand they (the fans) have their reasons, maybe they're not getting answers. But as a player I don't agree.”
Earlier, Andy Delort's late goal gave Nice a hard-fought 2-1 home win against Lorient and kept it in contention for a Champions League spot.
Delort's second goal of the game saw him head in Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg's cross in the 88th minute.
Also read:Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
The win moved fourth-place Nice two points behind Rennes in third and a Champions League playoff spot. Nice currently holds the automatic Europa League place, one point ahead of Strasbourg and Monaco with six games left. Fifth-place Strasbourg drew 1-1 at Troyes on Sunday.
Monaco hosts Nice in the Riviera derby on Wednesday.
Delort netted from the penalty spot in the 54th after midfielder Khephren Thuram was fouled. Left winger Armand Lauriente equalized in the 61st.
Elsewhere, striker Moussa Dembele scored a hat trick as Lyon routed Bordeaux 6-1 to go some way to appeasing its disgruntled supporters.
Dembele, forward Karl Toko Ekambi and midfielder Lucas Paqueta scored in the first half.
Midfielder Romain Faivre and Toko Ekambi netted after the break for Lyon, before Sekou Mara grabbed a late consolation with a penalty and Dembele scored again in stoppage time.
Lyon is eighth and only has an outside chance of qualifying for Europe next season, much to the disappointment of its fans. Two prominent groups — Bad Gones and Lyon 1950 — did not attend the game.
Lyon's fans are generally unhappy with the players and how the club is being run. Fans deployed an insulting banner toward the players during Thursday's home defeat to West Ham in the quarterfinals of the Europa League, and tried to invade the field afterward.
Bordeaux has conceded a league-high 77 goals and remains deep in relegation trouble in 19th. It hosts fellow struggler Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
OTHER MATCHES
Elsewhere Sunday, last-place Metz and relegation rival Clermont drew 1-1. In matches between midtable teams, it was: Montpellier 0, Reims 0; and Nantes 1, Angers 1.
Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
Karim Benzema came up big yet again.
He scored in second-half stoppage time on Sunday as Real Madrid rallied to a 3-2 win at Sevilla and moved closer to winning the Spanish league title for the second time in three seasons.
Madrid conceded two goals four minutes apart in the first half but came back after halftime to win and open a 15-point lead at the top of the standings with six rounds to go.
“Everyone is waiting for Madrid to stumble but Madrid doesn’t stumble,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “Madrid has heart, character and quality. It was a deserved win. The league is not over yet, there are several matches left, but it was a big push for us today.”
Also read:PSG beats Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Madrid’s closest challenger is Barcelona, which has two games in hand, including against relegation-threatened Cádiz on Monday.
Third-place Sevilla could have cut Madrid’s gap to nine points with a win at its Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium but instead saw its 15-game unbeaten streak at home this season come to an end.
Benzema scored his 15th goal in the last 10 matches with a shot from close range after a pass by Rodrygo two minutes into stoppage time.
The France striker is the Spanish league's leading scorer with 25 goals and is having one of his best seasons yet with Madrid. He had already been decisive in recent Champions League matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, being crucial in Madrid's run to the semifinals.
Sevilla looked on its way to a comfortable victory after opening the scoring with Ivan Rakitic’s low free kick in the 21st and adding to the lead with Erik Lamela's goal from inside the area in a breakaway in the 25th.
But Madrid dominated after that and pulled closer with Rodrygo’s goal from close range after a pass by Dani Carvajal in the 50th. Carvajal then set up Nacho Fernández's equalizer from inside the area in the 82nd, a few moments after Nacho had entered the match.
Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior had a goal disallowed in the 74th for hand ball after a video review that lasted several minutes.
Sevilla has been hit hard by injuries and has won only one of its last six league games. It stayed tied on points with both Barcelona and fourth-place Atlético Madrid.
ATLÉTICO WINS AGAIN
Yannick Carrasco converted a penalty kick 10 minutes into stoppage time as Atlético beat Espanyol 2-1 to end its three-match winless streak and strengthen its hold on fourth place.
Carrasco scored from the penalty spot in the final play of the game at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium to give Atlético a three-point cushion over fifth-place Real Betis, which was held at sixth-place Real Sociedad on Friday.
The penalty for Atlético was awarded following a lengthy video review to determine whether the ball touched the hand of Espanyol striker Raúl de Tomás inside the area.
Carrasco had already scored to put Atlético ahead in the 52nd, while De Tomás equalized for the visitors in the 74th.
Atlético played a man down from the 71st after midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off for a handball that earned him a second yellow card. Espanyol equalized in the ensuing free kick with De Tomás' shot getting past Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Atlético hadn't won in three matches. It also hadn't scored goal during that streak, including in the 0-0 home draw against Manchester City on Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, when it was eliminated 1-0 on aggregate after losing the first leg in England.
Espanyol had won three of its last five games, with one loss and a draw. It sits in 11th place.
ATHLETIC STALLS
Athletic Bilbao lost 2-0 at home to Celta Vigo to lose ground in the fight for a place in a European competition next season.
Iago Aspas and Fran Beltrán scored first-half goals for 11th-place Celta, which was winless in four matches.
Athletic hadn’t lost in three matches. It stayed in eighth place, four points behind Villarreal in seventh.
Also read:Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
LEVANTE NOT LAST
Levante moved out of last place with a 4-1 rout against Granada, which played with 10 men from the 54th after Germán Sánchez Barahona was sent off with a second yellow card.
It was the second win in the last three matches for Levante, which has won 14 points from its last nine league matches, with four victories, two draws and three losses. It next hosts Sevilla.
Granada had its second straight loss and stayed in 16th place, one point outside the relegation zone. It next visits Atlético.
2nd phase of BCL begins on Tuesday
The 2nd phase of the Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Championship League begins on Tuesday (Apr 19) at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shiphi Mohammad Mostafa Stadium Stadium in Kamalapur.
Two matches of the country's 2nd tier league will be held on the first day (Tuesday).
Also read: AFC Cup: Dhaka Abahani get walkover against Valencia of Maldives.
BFF Elite Football Academy will play NoFel Sporting Club at 3:30 pm while Gopalganj Sporting Club will meet Fortis Football Club at 6:45 pm.
On the following day (Wednesday), Azampur Football Club will face Kawran Bazar Progati Sangha at 3:30 pm while Wari Club will encounter Agrani Bank Club at 6:45 pm at the same venue.
Also read: BPL Football: Sk Russel beat Swadhinata KS 2-1
Manchester City Double or Liverpool Quadruple: Which one seems more likely?
Manchester City's hopes of winning the treble this season were dashed after losing 3-2 to Liverpool in the semifinals on Saturday. The Citizens are now aiming for a double this season, with the Premier League and Champions League titles at the top of their priority list. On the other hand, Liverpool have already won the EFL Cup and they are a strong contender for the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League. Manchester City's double or Liverpool's quadruple are the two most likely scenarios.
Manchester City's Prospect of Winning the Double
Manchester City have won five of the last seven EFL titles, including four straight from 2018 to 2021. However, they were unable to win the EFL Cup this season after succumbing in the fourth round to West Ham United. The Citizens also missed out on a treble opportunity after losing 3-2 to Liverpool in the FA Cup semifinal.
Manchester City now have a chance to win the Premier League and the FA Cup this season. They appear to be favourites to win both prestigious trophies. With 74 points, Pep Guardiola's team now leads the Premier League points standings. Manchester City are only one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool with seven games remaining. If Manchester City win the remainder of their games this season, they will be crowned champions.
Read Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
Manchester City will meet Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. On paper, Manchester City have a better squad than Real Madrid, but overcoming Los Blancos would be extremely challenging. Man City will face either Liverpool or Villarreal in the final if they can defeat Europe's most successful club in the semi-final. Given Manchester City's and Liverpool's recent form, an all-English final is a genuine possibility.
Liverpool's Prospect of Winning the Quadruple
Liverpool's first trophy of the season came in February when they won the EFL Cup final against Chelsea. They defeated Chelsea 11-10 in a marathon penalty shootout. Liverpool also qualified for the 2022 FA Cup final after defeating Manchester City 3-2 in the semifinal. In the final, Liverpool will face either Chelsea or Crystal Palace. The final against Chelsea would be an intriguing matchup, considering the two teams have previously met in a final this season. The final match is expected to take place on May 14.
Liverpool are only one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League. Liverpool have a total of 73 points after 31 games. They will keep pressing Man City until the end of the season, hoping for a slip-up in one of their final games. However, Liverpool must win their remaining matches to stay in contention.
Read Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Liverpool also have a realistic chance of winning the Champions League this season. Liverpool will play Villarreal of Spain in the semifinal and will start as favourites. If they qualify, Liverpool will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final. There will be no favourites in the championship game as whoever execute the game plan properly have a fair chance of winning the UCL 2022.
Verdict
Both Manchester City and Liverpool have been in excellent form this season, and they made sure to have a good squad depth before the season started. Both teams' squad depth proved to be quite effective as the season progressed. Manchester City will surely want to win the Premier League as well as the Champions League this season. Therefore, the Citizens have the upper hand in the current debate about Manchester City's double or Liverpool's quadruple. On the other hand, Liverpool have the potential to make history by being the first English side to win all four major titles in a single season, and thus surprise everyone.
Read AFC Cup play-off: Dhaka Abahani to face Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on April 19
Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
The football world was treated to a few spectacular contests in the quarter-final stage because the majority of the matches were evenly poised. Manchester City, Liverpool, Villarreal, and Real Madrid are the teams that have qualified for the semi-finals. The first leg will take place at the end of this month, with the second leg taking place at the start of May. This article discussed which teams could qualify for the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals.
Champions League 2021/2022: Semi-Finals Fixtures and Favourites
The opening legs of the semi-finals will take place on April 26 and 27. The second tie in this elimination round will take place on May 3 and 4, respectively. A total of four matches will be played in the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-final stage will be determined by goal differential. If the aggregate goals aren't enough to decide the winner, a penalty shootout will be held.
The defending Premier League champions, Manchester City, will face European heavyweights, Real Madrid, according to the draw. In the other semifinal, English club Liverpool will meet Spanish side Villarreal. Let's have a look at the teams with the best chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals.
Read 3 known Chelsea bids left after Cubs owners drop buyout plan
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
First Leg Fixture: Tuesday (April 26/1 a.m.) | Venue: Etihad Stadium
Second Leg Fixture: Wednesday (May 4/1 a.m.) | Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Manchester City and Real Madrid both faced a tough opponents in the quarter-finals. Manchester City beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home in the first leg but had to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano in the second leg. Though both ties were difficult for the English champions. On the other hand, Real Madrid enjoyed a big lead over Chelsea after winning the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. It was believed that Madrid would have an easier time in the second leg, but Chelsea fought back strongly and won the match 3-2. However, Real Madrid proceeded to the semi-finals with a scoreline of 5-4 on aggregate.
The semi-finals ties between them will be difficult to predict because both teams have been in excellent form this season. Manchester City prefer to play in the build-up and control possession. Oppositely, Real Madrid have the potential to surprise the opponent out of nowhere, and this has been a feature of their game this season. Manchester City's top scorer is Riyad Mahrez, who has six goals, while Real Madrid's top scorer is Karim Benzema, who has twelve.
Read Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Verdict: Manchester City
Liverpool vs Villarreal
First Leg Fixture: Wednesday (April 27/1 a.m.) | Venue: Anfield
Second Leg Fixture: Tuesday (May 3/1 a.m.) | Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica
Villarreal's ousting of Bayern Munich from the competition was the most unexpected outcome of the quarter-finals. Villareal had created a fantastic chance for themselves after defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 at home in the first leg. They qualified for the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. On the other hand, Liverpool enjoyed a big lead over Benfica after winning the first leg 3-1 away from home. Benfica performed well in the second leg, scoring three goals at Anfield. However, the match finished 3-3, and Liverpool proceeded to the next round with a 6-4 aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Liverpool may start as favourites against Villarreal. However, Villarreal's team has so much confidence right now that they can overcome Liverpool in this round. Therefore, it won't come as a surprise if Villarreal reach the final. Mohamed Salah leads Liverpool with eight goals, while Arnaut Danjuma leads Villarreal with six.
Read Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022: The Match that Could Decide Premier League Champion
Verdict: Liverpool
Bottom Line
On paper and based on current form, no team appears to be a strong favorite to go to the semi-finals. Whoever executes their game plan properly in both games will have a better chance of advancing to the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals. Given the intensity of the quarter-finals, the semi-final stage promises to be even more exciting.
3 known Chelsea bids left after Cubs owners drop buyout plan
The owners of the Chicago Cubs dropped their interest in buying Chelsea, leaving three remaining bids for the enforced sale of the Premier League club by sanctioned Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The bid was being led by Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts but faced opposition from Chelsea fans over Islamophobic comments by his father, Joe, that featured in leaked emails three years ago.
The consortium, which also featured American investors Ken Griffin and Dan Gilbert, did not directly address the “issues” that prevented them pursuing the bid ahead of Thursday’s deadline for final submissions.
“The Ricketts-Griffin-Gilbert Group has decided, after careful consideration, not to submit a final bid for Chelsea FC,” the group said in a statement. “In the process of finalizing their proposal, it became increasingly clear that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics around the sales process. We have great admiration for Chelsea and its fans, and we wish the new owners well.”
The remaining three known bids also involve North American sports team investors.
Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca has partnered with Larry Tanenbaum, who has ownership stakes in Toronto with the NBA’s Raptors, the NHL’s Maple Leafs and the city’s MLS team. Peter Guber, a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is also backing in the group.
Another part-owner of the Dodgers, Todd Boehly, is leading another consortium.
Read: Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
The third remaining known group is fronted by former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Martin Broughton with planned investment by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who own the Philadelphia 76ers and have stakes in Premier League club Crystal Palace.
A New York-based merchant bank, the Raine Group, has been overseeing the sale process that was announced last month by Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The oligarch has been sanctioned by Britain and the European Union over his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin with assets frozen, including Chelsea.
Abramovich has been disqualified from running the reigning European champions by the Premier League and he cannot profit from the proceeds of the sale, which the British government must sign off under terms of a license that allows the team to continue operating.
Chelsea’s Champions League title defense was ended by Real Madrid on Tuesday but Thomas Tuchel’s team is on course to qualify for the lucrative UEFA competition next season as it is third in the Premier League. Chelsea remains in contention for the FA Cup with a semifinal match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Bahrain-based private equity firm is in exclusive talks to buy seven-time European champion AC Milan and become the Italian league’s first Middle East investor, a person with knowledge of the process said.
The buyout by Investcorp could see the Serie A leader sold for around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the exclusive talks which began this month.
Read: Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022: The Match that Could Decide Premier League Champion
The U.S.-based hedge firm Elliott Management has owned Milan since 2018 after the former Chinese owner failed to repay part of a loan. Milan declined comment. Investcorp, which was founded in Bahrain in 1982, delisted from the Bahrain stock exchange last year after almost four decades as it continues its global expansion of investments.
The potential takeover comes with Milan on top of Serie A with six games remaining. Milan looks to win a first title since 2011, and a 19th overall, after a period of domestic dominance by Juventus broken by crosstown rival Inter Milan only last season.
The two Milan clubs share the San Siro stadium and they are looking to build a new stadium jointly as part of “The Cathedral” project.
Read: Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar to start peace-themed tour
AC Milan is also looking for investment that would allow the team to return to the pinnacle of European football having not won the Champions League since 2007. The team, which features Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, went out in the group stage in December after ending a seven-season absence from the lucrative UEFA competition.