Abramovich’s financial tentacles spread to South America

SPECULATION that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is spreading his financial interests in football to South America has resurfaced in the Russian billionaire’s homeland.

Russia's independent daily business newspaper Kommersant this week reported that Abramovich was behind the E30 million transfer signings of Brazilian club Corinthians, echoing similar claims made before Christmas by Spanish sports daily AS that the Chelsea owner was an influential backer of the London-based group Media Sports Investment.

MSI belongs to Iranian-born businessman Kia Dzhurabchan and the investment vehicle financed the controversial E18m transfer of Argentine Olympic hero Carlos Tevez to Corinthians from Argentina's Boca Juniors.