Pochettino questions Boehly Argentina expansion plans

Chelsea’s plans to push into Argentina as part of a multi-club empire have been questioned by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

It’s been reported that the Todd Boehly-led BlueCo investment vehicle was seeking to buy a club in South America as it seeks to emulate the City Football Group’s hugely successful ownership model.

While Chelsea remains BlueCo’s flagship club, it has also completed a deal to take over Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg and plans are afoot for expansion with South America next on the list.

New Argentina president Javier Milei revealed in January that Chelsea had identified five clubs in his country which were primed for a takeover bid.

The clubs named by Milei included Boca Juniors, who along with River Plate are Argentina’s most famous club, and the one supported by the new president.

Milei says: 'Where do I sign?'

“There is a willingness to invest which has been expressed by Chelsea in the case of wanting to buy Boca, Racing, Newell’s, Lanus and Estudiantes," Milei said, according to Radio Mitre.

"There are Arab groups willing to invest three billion dollars. It’s quick money.

“I am a fan of Boca and if investment groups come to Boca and invest a fortune, and that means Boca always wins and River are not able to win a single game, the question is: ‘Where do I sign?’.”

The question of multi-club ownership has now been put to Pochettino, Chelsea’s Argentinian coach who played for Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland before making the jump to Europe.

He queried whether practices which have become commonplace in England and wider European football are ready to catch on in Argentina.

“It’s so difficult because Argentina is a country where it is not normally like here, where people arrive from outside and buy clubs,” he said.

“The fans, they feel they belong to the club and the club belongs to them, and it’s not easy to change the mentality. Maybe in time, yes, but at the moment I don’t believe it is going to 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 to have better lives. It’s a difficult situation, but all the Argentines, we are going to support and we are going to do everything to try to help the country, Argentina, to stay in a better situation.”

It has also been reported on GIVEMESPORT that Boehly and co. are looking at club options in Brazil, Belgium and Portugal with an opportunity to invest in Saudi Arabia also discussed.