Mauricio Pochettino has warned Chelsea owners of a fan backlash if they decide to invest in his home country Argentina as part of their multi-club model.
Argentina president Javier Milei recently claimed that the Blues were “ready” to invest in a large number of Argentinian clubs, including Pochettino’s former team, Newell’s Old Boys, where Lionel Messi began his career. Milei supported the investment in his club, Boca Juniors, joking: “ If investment groups come to Boca and invest a fortune, and that means Boca always wins and River (Plate, Boca’s bitter rival) is not capable of winning a single game, the question is where I sign.”
But Pochettino urged caution on behalf of his Chelsea owners, suggesting Argentine fans were not used to outside investment in football.
Be careful, danger for Chelsea!
The Chelsea manager told reporters on Friday: “It’s very difficult because Argentina is a country where it’s not like here, where people come from outside and buy clubs. The fans feel like they belong to the club and the club belongs to them, and it’s not easy to change the mentality. Maybe over time yes, but for now I don’t think it will be easy to buy a club there. But, of course, the president has new ideas and he wants to help the country and the people live better. It’s a difficult situation, but all Argentines will support us and we will do everything to help the country, Argentina, to stay in a better situation.”
Pochettino’s comments come against a backdrop of continued hostility from Strasbourg fans towards Chelsea’s owners. As part of the BlueCo consortium, Boehly and Co acquired the French club in June 2023 and loaned young Chelsea stars Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos there. Strasbourg supporters, however, opposed this transfer from the start. Tensions came to a head when goalkeeper and captain Matz Sels was sold to Nottingham Forest on closing day, and supporters presented a banner reading: ” All our fears regarding the BlueCo project, confirmed during this transfer window.”
Pochettino joined Newell’s at the age of 14 and spent eight years at the Argentine club. He left the club to sign for Espanyol in 1994, which was his first role as manager.
