Staveley reveals Newcastle owners PIF had the chance to buy Chelsea

Amanda Staveley has claimed Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) had the chance to buy Chelsea but “there was only one club for us” and that was Newcastle.

Staveley acquired a 10% stake in the Magpies back in October as part of the deal that saw Mike Ashley sell the club to the consortium led by PIF. She is also a director at the club and was highly influential in organising the £305m takeover.

Her company, PCP Capital Partners, has worked with Middle Eastern money for years and Staveley has revealed that, at one point, she “had the opportunity” to explore the acquisition of Chelsea, on behalf of PIF.

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Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit on Thursday, she said: “We had the opportunity to look at Chelsea – a wonderful club – but there was only one club for us and there will only be one club for us.”

Staveley also made headlines at that conference for her comments on Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner.

Abramovich, a Russian oligarch, has had to sell the West London club due to his relationship with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. He has invested £1.5bn in the club and will listen to offers in the region of £3bn.

Staveley expressed sympathy for the outgoing billionaire, claiming his sale of the club, which has effectively been forced upon him, wasn’t “fair”.

“We’re always going to have geopolitical issues,” she said.

“I’m really sad that someone is going to have a football club taken away because of a relationship he may have with someone.

“I don’t think that’s particularly fair to be honest. But we do have to hold all of our relationships to account.”

Richard Masters, on the other hand, has welcomed the sale, arguing Abramovich’s position as owner had become “unsustainable”.

“I think the situation has escalated incredibly quickly over the last seven days and he [Abramovich] has come to the right conclusion,” the Premier League chief executive said at the summit.

“It’s unsustainable in the current environment. It’s a welcome decision and obviously, for the sake of everybody, including the fans, as soon as the sale process concludes everyone has certainty.”