Sanctioned Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich ‘begs rich pals for $1million loan to pay his staff’
ROMAN Abramovich has been begging his wealthy Hollywood mates to lend him $1million EACH to keep him afloat, a source has claimed.
The Chelsea owner has been sanctioned by the UK government which alleges he is a Putin crony - and has had his assets frozen by worldwide authorities.
Now he is allegedly desperately asking friends for loans to pay his $750,000-a-week staff payroll.
This includes the staff manning his multiple luxury superyachts, as well as his several mansions.
But his rich pals are extremely wary of lending him any money after the UK and the EU slapped him with sanctions.
A source told : “Roman is asking some of his closest powerful friends to let him borrow $1 million.
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“He is saying he has never missed payroll for his staff, which is $750,000 a week, and with his assets frozen, he can’t pay his people.
“He has reached out to Hollywood producer and director Brett Ratner and the Rothschild family, among many others, for money, but — while they are good friends with Roman — they have not agreed to give him money, because either they do not have that in liquid cash, or moreover it is not clear what are the repercussions under international law.”
Neither group has lent Abramovich any money, according to reports.
But Abramovich has dismissed claims he asked American pals for loans, telling the allegations were "false".
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A spokesperson for the oligarch told the outlet he “has not spoken with, nor asked for funds from these individuals".
The US has not yet added the Chelsea boss to their list of sanctioned uber-rich Russians - meaning being lent money by his American friends would not be against the rules.
It comes as the football boss had a private meeting with Vladimir Putin to plead with him end the war in Ukraine last week.
The Chelsea owner reportedly rushed to Moscow from his south of France mansion in the hours after the Russian tyrant ordered his troops to begin their onslaught.
Despite being unable to convince Putin, he was nevertheless given permission to act as a mediator, says the Financial Times.
It was also revealed last week that he had been poisoned when in Kyiv talking to Ukrainian officials, fearing for his life as he went blind.
According to analysis, Abramovich was poisoned with World War One chemical warfare agent chloropicrin or a low dosage of novichok.
He suffered the alarming symptoms along with two Ukrainian peace negotiators, after reportedly eating poisoned chocolates.
The alleged attack was blamed on hardliners in Moscow who want to sabotage peace talks and continue Vladimir Putin's bloody war against Ukraine.
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The symptoms he suffered were so severe that one stage he feverishly asked scientists examining him “are we dying?”, one person present told the New York Times.
The Sun has approached Roman Abramovich, Brett Ratner and the Rothschild family for comment.