Chelsea are close to getting approval from the UK government for sale of the club to Todd Boehly. However, in a surprise turn of events, the deal now also needs to get approval from the Portuguese government and the European Union (EU) after Roman Abramovich became a Portuguese citizen.
As per The Telegraph, the billionaire oligarch officially became an EU citizen three years after withdrawing his application for a UK visa amid diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow. The surprise development was previously confirmed by his spokesperson.
Additionally, as per Portuguese newspaper Publico, Abramovich's successful application used a Portuguese law offering naturalisation to descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the Iberian peninsula during the Inquisition 400 years ago.
