SiriuslyCold Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Sheikh is not a Roman ruler Dec 7 2006 Sports View With Echo Sports Editor John Thompson THE comparisons this week between Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum may have been inevitable. But in another sense they are also crude and misleading. The two may have immense personal fortunes in common. But that is about all. Abramovich was a young opportunist in Russia, his personal wealth largely accrued from the chance which the end of Communism offered to someone sharp-eyed enough to see it in an impoverished, iron curtain super power. The wealth in Dubai, however,comes from what lies naturally beneath its desert lands, oil wealth which is being invested to build Dubai up into one of the modern wonders of the economic and tourist world. The business planning and visionary expertise that has gone into spending and investing Dubai's riches is a far cry from anything Abramovich can claim. So any portrayal of Liverpool's hoped for deal with Dubai as a prize fight between two super rich men seeking a playground for a battle of egos is wrong. Truth is that while Sheikh Mo, as he is affectionately known, is the ultimate power here, the man most closely involved with the Reds' negotiations is the head of Dubai International Capital, Sameer Al Ansari. It is rumoured he has the Anfield crest permanently on his mobile phone and take it as red -he does genuinely support Liverpool. But he also has 20 years as a finance and investment professional, vast experience with a number of well known multi-national companies in Europe and the Middle East including BDO, Ernst &Young, and Dubai Aluminium Company. He is also a board member on several companies locally and internationally including Dubai Media Inc, Dubai Holding and Dubai International Financial Centre. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and holds an Honours BSc in Accounting & Financial Management, plus a Diploma in Industrial Studies. Had enough? In other words, he is a highly educated, talented, professional executive - not the sort to let a beating heart rule a cool head, to boast about his yachts or surely tell Rafa Benitez which striker to go out and buy. That is why if Liverpool were ever to pass into the realm of an overseas investor,then those who hold the power and the purse strings in Dubai seem as suitable as any fan could hope to have behind their club. Sheikh Mohammed and the people he surrounds himself with are of the highest calibre, not crude or classless in the way they conduct themselves or go about their business. They are also winners to the core, so much so that one respected British racing pundit who has seen their role in the Godolphin racing stable's success, has said Reds fans should rejoice at the prospect of this deal. It has not happened yet. And while it probably will, until the ink is dry on the paper work no Kopite should burst open the bubbly and proclaim anew era at Anfield just yet. But should the moment come, the first toast should be to Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and chairman David Moores. They are on the verge of pulling off what seems to be the greatest deal in the history of Liverpool Football Club, possibly of any football club. Amid immense public pressures,they have carefully bided their time to hopefully now place Liverpool into the best hands they could hope to find anywhere in the world.
SiriuslyCold Posted December 12, 2006 Author Posted December 12, 2006 http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/Rank_1.html http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/03/cz_forbes_0522_royals_slide_4.html Roman Abramovich $18b Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum $14b
dbchoong Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 Roman is passionate about football and don't seem to feel the pinch when money is poured down the drain. Not sure if Al is like that or not. :)
dude Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 Roman is passionate about football and don't seem to feel the pinch when money is poured down the drain. Not sure if Al is like that or not. :) The Sheikh has no problem with money down the drain. Cos it will come back as black gold....
SiriuslyCold Posted December 12, 2006 Author Posted December 12, 2006 I sincerely hope not... we don't want to be another Chel$ki Sameer Al-Ansari is probably going to be closest to the club if the deal goes thru, but its Maktoum's money which I don't think Al-Ansari has the liberty of
dude Posted December 13, 2006 Posted December 13, 2006 I sincerely hope not... we don't want to be another Chel$ki Sameer Al-Ansari is probably going to be closest to the club if the deal goes thru, but its Maktoum's money which I don't think Al-Ansari has the liberty of It would be nice gto know that we could be that if we wanted to, but I have a feeling that they will still be very sensible with money.... I just hope that the talent scout sees the real good ones that will fit into Rafa's plans, not just players who are very good where they are now. Like Henry, he was a misfit at Inter Milan, but in the right team, he is awesome. Lucky Arsenal that Wenger knows how to get the best out of him.... Come to think of it, considering the reported unhappiness now between Wenger and Henry, and Henry revealing a few months back that he loves Liverpool, it could be interesting, if indeed the takeover happens...
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