Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has issued a firm denial over rumours that he is considering selling his stake in the club.
A story on fan website Arseblog yesterday claimed that Usmanov, who owns a 30.04 per cent stake in Arsenal through Red and White Holdings Plc, was considering selling his shares in the club and moving to Everton, where he would join former partner Farhad Moshiri.
But a spokesperson for Usmanov has moved to deny such rumours, confirming in a statement: “Contrary to some speculative media reports, Red and White Holdings would like to state that Mr. Alisher Usmanov does not intend to sell his stake in Arsenal Holdings Plc ("Arsenal").
“Mr. Usmanov continues to be committed to Arsenal and considers his stake in the Club as a long-term investment for his family and future generations.”
Usmanov, valued at £9.4billion by Forbes, has no position on the Arsenal board and has not enjoyed good relations with majority shareholder Stan Kroenke in the past, writing to the club ahead of October’s annual general meeting to seek clarification over a £3million payment made to Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
In 2012 he also blamed the board for failing to give manager Arsene Wenger the support he needed in the transfer market.
However Usmanov, who first invested in the Emirates in 2007, has offered significant support to Wenger himself, labelling him Arsenal’s “main asset” as part of recent comments on the club in March.
“Arsenal’s results are stable,” he said. “They are always among the leaders of the English Premier League. This is a good and large sports business project, and I am pleased with it.
“The only thing is that today such situation occurred, like in any sport, there are ups and downs. The club must retain its major symbol and main asset - manager Arsene Wenger.
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"Failures have been haunting Arsenal for many years now, they cannot become the EPL champions. This has led to some discontent with Wenger's position as a manager.
“I believe that Arsene Wenger is a great coach, and Arsenal have to give him the opportunity to plan the succession process and leave his legacy when he deems it necessary.”
