Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe comments on potential Chelsea bid for first time as he reveals he’s toured club’s training HQ
BRITAIN’S richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not ruled out attempting another bid for Chelsea after admitting he once went to inspect the club’s training ground.
The 66-year-old, who is reported to have a £21bn fortune, might be a Manchester United fan but also has a season ticket at Stamford Bridge.
Ratcliffe, boss of petrochemicals giant Ineos, expressed an interest in buying the Blues last summer but did not meet the valuation set by Russian owner Roman Abramovich, who took over from Ken Bates in 2003.
The keen adventurer recently acquired the Team Sky cycling programme, pumped money into Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup ambitions, has harboured a desire to take over French outfit Nice and bought minor club FC Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.
Privately he confirmed reports he had made a visit to Chelsea’s Cobham training HQ.
And asked by the BBC about being interested, Ratcliffe responded: “I’d never say no. But I don’t know where those conversations will finish up.
“Look, I am a big Manchester United fan. In fact, I am a tortured Manchester United fan at the moment, to be honest.
“We have dipped our toe in the water with football, it’s a very different sport, quite a complicated sport, a complicated world.
“We are in the process of learning about it.
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“We bought this club in Switzerland and it has been really educational.
“We haven’t got to where we are in the chemicals and business world by being impetuous, rash and stupid.
“We recognised it is a very complex world, we are going through the process of learning and we are not in a desperate worry to get to the end game.”