Businessman Alisher Usmanov has invested in the Tashkent football club Pakhtakor, Interfax reports referring to the documentary of the TV channel "Uzbekistan 24". Pakhtakor is one of the most famous and oldest football clubs in Uzbekistan, founded in 1956. A representative of the businessman confirmed this information.
"Usmanov does not buy the club Pakhtakor, he provides financial assistance to the company that owns the club, at a rate of $ 100 million," he explained, but did not name the company that will receive money, but declined to comment.
According to the TV channel "Uzbekistan 24", the businessman invested only $ 20 million. "I am proud that I am an Uzbek, I am proud that this is my native land. And everything I can be useful for Uzbekistan, I am ready to do at any time, "Interfax quotes Usmanov in this film.
80% of the club acquired the investment company SFI Management Group at zero redemption value with the condition of fulfilling investment obligations, the investor's website says. SFI Management Group should invest at least 200 billion soums within 5 years - in the construction, reconstruction, overhaul of buildings and structures to bring them in line with international standards. For example, it is planned that within two years a new one will be built on the site of the old stadium. According to the head coach of the football club Shota Arveladze, the cost of works is estimated at $ 100 million.
Alisher Usmanov recently sold all 30.05% owned by the Arsenal Football Club in London, the main shareholder of the club - sports tycoon Stan Kronke. The businessman owned a stake through the company Red and White Securities Ltd., registered on the British island of Jersey. The deal amounted to 550 million pounds sterling. For 11 years, from the moment of purchase in 2007, Usmanov allegedly could spend 293.7 million pounds to buy Arsenal shares, so he could get 256.3 million pounds of profit.
In 2017 Forbes estimated Usmanov's fortune at $ 15.2 billion. According to Bloomberg, Usmanov received many proposals to invest in other clubs. Usmanov did not rule out that he was investing in the Everton Liverpool, whose largest shareholder is Usmanov's partner Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri.