"Loved by their fans but loathed by rivals, freespending Wrexham have done to the English Football League what Chelsea did to European football in 2003. The Welsh club's rise from the fifth-tier National League to the Championship has been dramatic, and they have now reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 19 years."
"Chelsea faced similar criticism in 2003 when a little-known Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, transformed the club by buying it for 140m and writing off 80m of debt. Using his private wealth, Abramovich did not need to balance the books and spent 121.3m on 11 players in his first summer in charge."
"Some argue his arrival paved the way for the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of Manchester City and Qatar's acquisition of Paris Saint-Germain, moves that prompted the Premier League and European football authorities to introduce financial controls. And while a wave of wealthy foreign investors - including those at Wrexham - have since entered the English game, many see them as following the playbook of Abramovich."
Wrexham's dramatic ascent through the English Football League, backed by significant financial investment from Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has drawn comparisons to Chelsea's transformation under Roman Abramovich in 2003. Both clubs faced accusations of buying success through substantial spending. Abramovich's arrival at Chelsea, involving a £140m purchase and £80m debt write-off, followed by £121.3m spent on 11 players, established a precedent that influenced subsequent wealthy takeovers at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. These investments prompted financial controls from football authorities. Wrexham's strengthened squad, featuring striker Paul Mullin who scored 38 goals helping end the club's 15-year National League stay in 2023, demonstrates how financial backing translates to on-pitch success. The club now faces Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round, marking one of their most significant matches in 162 years.
Read at www.bbc.com
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