17 February 2024 , 09:13
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Mauricio Pochettino doesn't believe Chelsea chief Todd Boehly's reported plan to expand the Blues' multi-club ownership to South America would go down well.
Argentine president Javier Milei has claimed the Blues are interested in taking charge of one of five clubs in the country. The quintet includes Buenos Aires giants Boca Juniors and Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys, the club where Pochettino began his own playing career.
Chelsea owners BlueCo took the first steps in their push for multi-club ownership in 2023, investing in French club Strasbourg. The London club aren't the only club with interests elsewhere, with City Football Group - owners of several clubs across the world in addition to Manchester City - the most prominent examples.
Pochettino, however, isn't convinced by the reported Argentina plans. Speaking to media ahead of Chelsea's match away to City, he outlined why he thought it wouldn't work.
“It’s so difficult because Argentina is a country where it is not normally like here, where people arrive from outside and buy clubs,” Pochettino told reporters. “The fans, they feel they belong to the club and the club belongs to them, and it’s not easy to change the mentality. Maybe in time, yes, but at the moment I don’t believe it is going to be easy to buy a club there.
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“But, of course, the president has new ideas and he wants to help the country and the people to have better lives. It’s a difficult situation, but all the Argentines, we are going to support and we are going to do everything to try to help the country, Argentina, to stay in a better situation.”
Milei, who was inaugurated as president in 2023, addressed Chelsea's reported plans in January. Milei, a footballer himself in his youth, won more than 55 per cent of the vote to beat rival Agustin Rossi in last year's elections.
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Mauricio Pochettino has explained how fan culture in Argentina could make a purchase tough (PA)“There is a willingness to invest which has been expressed by Chelsea in the case of wanting to buy Boca, Racing, Newell’s, Lanús and Estudiantes," Milei told Radio Mitre (via Yahoo). "There are Arab groups willing to invest three billion dollars. It’s quick money.
“I am a fan of Boca and if investment groups come to Boca and invest a fortune, and that means Boca always wins and River are not able to win a single game, the question is ‘where do I sign?’.”
River Plate, Boca's historical rivals, won the Argentine Primera Division in 2023. Of the five clubs listed by Milei in his claims about Chelsea, only cup winners Estudiantes - whose president is former Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron - will participate in the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
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