For months, reports from the English and Portuguese media have been claiming that Chelsea are interested in taking over a club in Portugal.
Stories have been saying that Sporting are the favourite target for Todd Boehly and his partners, as they’re a big club with a great talent machine in their academy.
Lion’s president Federico Varandas has already spoken against that operation, and now, quoted by A Bola, Belenenses president Patrick Morais de Carvalho went heavier on Chelsea’s intentions.
Speaking about his club’s future, he first claimed he wouldn’t want to be part of a group, and then said the Blues’ plans are actually a lot worse.
“We have to define the financing model we want for Belenenses over the next few years. There are some models that are fashionable and don’t interest us. One of them is the multi-ownership of clubs, as is the case with Red Bull and the City Group,” said Patrick Morais de Carvalho.
“The second known financing model disgusts me and Belenenses even more, and has to do with a new trend of clubs buying other clubs. For example, in Portugal there have been reports that Chelsea wants to buy Sporting. I think that’s news and an intention that offends Portugal, in this case offends Sporting fans and offends the Portuguese football industry. That’s not the future, for us it’s unthinkable that Belenenses will be taken over by another club. Belenenses is not willing to be the B team of any European or world club.”
Portuguese clubs may be in need of money and welcome the foreign investment, but this is not the first time they share their anger in this way.
So despite Boehly’s intention, it seems unlikely Chelsea will get a partner side in Portugal soon, unless he finds a way to invest in those clubs without such a invasive attitude.
