Chelsea football club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich has received Israeli citizenship and is now living there, Israel’s ambassador to Russia Gary Koren confirmed Friday. “He has completed the process as far as I know and has moved and is living in Israel and has received an Israeli passport,” Koren said. Asked if the 51-year-old Abramovich is now Israel’s richest man, Koren said: “Well probably, I don’t have such a list.”
The Israeli diplomat stressed that Abramovich will receive a warm welcome, adding that he hopes the Russian will “invest at least part of his riches in our economy.” “Maybe he will support Israeli football because in fact it’s in a pitiful state,” Koren said, citing Chelsea’s success and adding wistfully: “If only we had a football team at such a level.”