Usmanov’s spokesman added the sale was not prompted by any problems with Usmanov’s status in the UK, as the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has experienced with the non-renewal of his visa, because Usmanov has permanent residency.
Usmanov is also said by his spokesman emphatically not to be selling so that
he can invest in Everton alongside his long term business advisor and partner Farhad Moshiri, who owns a 49.9%
Everton stake and is now significantly financing the club.
Usmanov bought Moshiri’s 15% stake in
Arsenal for around £146m when Moshiri invested in Everton, but despite owning just over 30%, he was always kept away from the Arsenal board or any involvement in running the club. He found that exclusion intensely frustrating and publicly criticised Kroenke for a lack of investment in players, proposing that they put more money into the club via a rights issue, a suggestion Kroenke declined.