ALISHER Usmanov’s yacht, Dilbar, stopped on the Turkish coast this week to take on fuel. Four hundred thousand litres of the stuff, according to local media.
But it was his close friend and business associate Farhad Moshiri’s decision to pull the trigger on an agreement to increase his shareholding in Everton that added fuel to a few fires.
For some, this was another indication that Moshiri is paving the way for Usmanov, who only recently sold up at Arsenal remember, to join him at Goodison Park.
For others, who point to the fact a company the two men run sponsors Everton’s training ground, it just confirmed their long-held belief that Usmanov is already bankrolling Moshiri’s investment.
Those who speak publicly for both men (or at least brief journalists on their behalf), deny both things, and always have.
I should know. I’ve been asking them about it myself ever since Moshiri first bought his stake in Everton.
And while their briefings on other things, including Arsenal, have changed over time, on these two theories regarding Everton, the response has always been categoric.
People will believe what they want to, and of course this does not prove either that Usmanov is not already heavily involved at Everton behind the scenes, or that he wants to become more involved.
But nevertheless it is worth noting what the people he pays to speak on his behalf have been saying over the last few months.
In July (when the response to rumours of Usmanov selling his Arsenal shares was “no comment”): “He has nothing to do with Everton, or any plans to buy into the club.”
In August (after he sold up at Arsenal): “Everton is not on the cards and will not be. It is Mr Moshiri’s and will remain that way.”
At around the same time, it was also insisted that it was “extremely unlikely” Usmanov would look to buy shares in another Premier League club, and that “continental Europe would be a better bet.”
In September (in denying any involvement by Usmanov in Moshiri’s move to become majority shareholder): “It remains the case that Everton is Farhad Moshiri’s project.”
At no point has Usmanov ever contradicted any of this himself, or said that he wants to buy shares in Everton.
So there is plenty of evidence from official sources, both on and off the record, that he is neither the current money man behind Everton, nor wants to be.
And absolutely no hard evidence beyond conjecture to the contrary.
His recent business decisions do not suggest a man eager to invest his money in this country either.
In December he told Reuters in a telephone interview that he was ready to invest “as much as I can” in Uzbekistan, the land of his birth.
Usmanov said: “I am ready to help (Uzbekistan) in any way possible and I am already helping. My role today is advice, consulting, and charitable projects.
Asked how much he was willing to invest in Uzbekistan, he said: “As much as I can.”
He has since financed a series of projects in the country, including an investment in Tashkent football club Pakhtakor, who are planning to build a new stadium.
And according to local sources, his lawyers are also currently in Spain discussing a possible investment in Real Murcia, whose president Victor Galvez recently revealed ambitious plans to build a new stadium in a huge Sporting City infrastructure project.
There are those who believe that Usmanov is simply moving his money out of this country due to current tensions between Russia and the UK.
And it is a fact that his USM Holdings firm announced recently that it’s owners were transferring core assets to Russia-based USM Holding Company LLC, which was registered this year.
But it won’t stop tongues wagging. Even before Panorama made a similar allegation, there were plenty of journalists who firmly believe Usmanov is the real power behind the throne at Everton.
That is despite the Premier League signing off on Moshiri’s initial investment after demanding full disclosure of any and all beneficial parties in the ownership chain.
If he is more involved than has so far been made public, he has no reason to hide it any longer. As far as the Premier League are concerned, there is nothing to stop him from openly buying shares or investing in Everton now he is no longer at Arsenal.
So if that is the plan, the question is, why wait? Usmanov has the wealth needed to buy the club, and/or the means to fund a new stadium, should he wish to.
Yet he is investing in projects abroad rather than in the UK, and in his recent Bloomberg interview he name checked several other big European clubs, including AC Milan, Roma and Bayern Munich.
He even added: “Should there be a proposal or a possibility to invest in them with good potential returns, I would consider the deal.”
In the same interview, Usmanov insisted he “doesn’t exclude” a more significant investment in Everton, and that if Moshiri needs his support he is “happy to help.”
But this was quickly played down by Everton deputy chairman Keith Harris, who said: “Support can come in many ways, not just financial. It could also mean through advice or moral support.”
Being “happy to help” does not suggest a significant, transformative investment to me. Usmanov wants back into football, that is clear, but after years of frustration at Arsenal, he wants to be the main mover at a big club with investment potential, not the junior partner to his former accountant. He wants to be seen, not hide away.
Could one of his companies do another deal to sponsor Everton, or become involved in stadium financing? Certainly.
Beyond that it remains unlikely he would want to become heavily invested. And as for the idea that he is already the real owner of Everton, well Moshiri himself knocked that one down. His response to the BBC reporter who asked him that question was: “Are you crazy? Have you seen a psychiatrist?"
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