Binance Spokesman Rules Out Purchase Of Chelsea Despite Discussion With Abramovich

Chief Executive of crypto exchange Binance discussed buying Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's Premier League football club Chelsea but has ruled out any such deal, a spokesperson for Binance confirmed.

Changpeng Zhao spoke with the Raine Group, the US investment bank representing Chelsea on the sale, but declined to pursue it as owning a football club is not one of his priorities, the spokesperson explained.

Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale last week after Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered an international backlash against businessmen with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abramovich has denied having such ties.

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has several ties to the soccer world-- sponsoring the Africa Cup of Nations tournament and also the Argentinian national team and Italian Serie A side Lazio.

Chelsea are currently the European and World Club Cup champions.

Abramovich has placed an asking price of £3 billion on Chelsea which he bought in 2003 for a reported £140 million pounds.

Some Interested Suitors In Chelsea's Sales

The sale has attracted interest from suitors including US billionaire Todd Boehly, who owns stakes in the LA Dodgers baseball club and LA Lakers basketball team. Boehly has teamed up on a bid with Swiss billionaire businessman Hansjorg Wyss, reports have claimed. 

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has also publicly expressed interest in buying the club.

Reports also claimed that it may take about a month to agree to a sale with a successful bidder. Abramovich has said the proceeds from the sale will go to support the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Raine also advised Binance, which processes trades worth billions of dollars a month, on its $200 million investment last month in US media group Forbes.