It seems fair to assume that the most pressing matter on Roman Abramovich's mind is not the ceaseless trial of Chelsea. He has a far more enervating one of his own.
Chelsea's billionaire owner has spent much of November in London's Royal Courts of Justice, attempting to defend an unprecedented private litigation. At stake is US$5.8billion (Dh21.3bn), some 40 per cent of Abramovich's wealth, and a sum that has forced some extraordinary public confessions.
He is accused of coercing two erstwhile allies - fellow Russian, Boris Berezovsky, and the now deceased Georgian, Badri Patarkashshivili - into selling him stakes in oil and aluminium companies at a price billions of dollars under market value.
Abramovich's defence is that his relationship with the pair was not as a co-owner of businesses that mushroomed in value following "friendly" auctions by the post-communist Russian state, but as a purchaser of political and physical protection.
In pages of testimony, Abramovich claims to have made billions of dollars of "krysha" payments to Berezovsky and Patarkashshivili in return for favourable treatment from the Kremlin and what he labels "resolving problems on the ground".
At one point, Abramovich's describes negotiating a fee for the latter service. "[Mr Patarkashshivili] asked me for $700m," Abramovich said. "I thought that was too much but we both knew it was his starting position. My recollection is I offered $400m ... we ultimately compromised on a figure of $540m."
It is as easy to imagine the Russian's frustration with the court proceedings as it has been to observe his anger at his prodigious spending on Chelsea never quite managing to achieve its goal. His problem with Andre Villas-Boas, however, is an unusual one.
Normally, losing to Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and QPR in your first 12 games as Chelsea manager would spell termination.
Villas-Boas was not Abramovich's first choice to succeed Carlo Ancelotti and had not impressed several senior players.
But Villas-Boas knows his employer has invested more than just the €15m (Dh75.75m) it took to buy out his Porto contract. Abramovich has entrusted him with turning over a squad where player power has grown out of control; one that has aged and fallen behind rivals.
Sacking their 34-year-old manager will not change that. Nor will it make it any easier to recruit someone capable of fulfilling one of the hardest job remits in football. Abramovich is paying for the sins of his Chelsea past; just as the courts pore over those in Russia.
sports@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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