Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who has been the majority owner of the Ligue 1 club Monaco since 2011, is reportedly considering the possibility of selling his stakes in the club. This move comes after receiving unsolicited inbound interest, prompting Rybolovlev to explore strategic alternatives for his ownership. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7812716##Les Echos newspaper initially reported the potential sale and mentioned that Rybolovlev had enlisted The Raine Group to handle the divestment project, either in part or in full. A representative from Rybolovlev’s family office confirmed this development, stating that the majority shareholder of AS Monaco has initiated a process to explore strategic alternatives for the stake in the club. The family office has retained The Raine Group as its exclusive financial adviser for this matter.Dmitry Rybolovlev is a prominent Russian businessman known for his involvement in various industries, including the fertilizer sector. Beyond his business ventures, He gained attention for his significant art collection, having spent about $2 billion on artworks from 2002 to 2014.🚨🚨| BREAKING: Dmitry Rybolovlev is ready to sell AS Monaco.The Russian general staff has mandated the Raine Group bank (which handled the sale of Manchester United) for the sale of the club. [@Santi_J_FM] pic.twitter.com/3Gxe5tMram— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) January 21, 2024 This decision to potentially sell Monaco follows the oligarch’s recent testimony in a New York court, where he filed a lawsuit against Sotheby’s, accusing the auction house of cheating him out of tens of millions of dollars through marked-up prices on art purchases. Rybolovlev’s inclusion on a Trump administration list of Russian politicians and oligarchs linked to Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2018 also adds a political dimension to his public profile.The potential sale of Rybolovlev’s stakes introduces an element of uncertainty regarding the future ownership and direction of the club, which has played a significant role in French and European football.
