Speculation surrounding the ownership of AS Monaco continues to swirl as reports hint at Russian billionaire Dmitri Rybolovlev’s potential interest in selling the club. For months, whispers have circulated about Rybolovlev’s willingness to step away from the Ligue 1 team, with recent rumours linking him to a possible investment in Brazil’s Vasco da Gama.
Fans of Monaco, much like their counterparts at Olympique de Marseille, have been subjected to waves of insider claims suggesting a sale to Saudi investors. Notably, former footballer Jérôme Rothen publicly supported such reports before later retracting his statements. Despite the chatter, Rybolovlev remains at the helm of AS Monaco, though his long-term plans for the club remain a topic of speculation.
On the Brazilian front, media outlets have suggested that Rybolovlev was eyeing Vasco da Gama, a move that could have paved the way for new ownership in Monaco. These reports also named British businesswoman Amanda Staveley as a potential buyer for the Principality club. Staveley, known for orchestrating Newcastle United’s sale to Saudi investors, has been speculated to be interested in AS Monaco following her departure from Newcastle’s board in July.
However, Rybolovlev’s representatives have refuted the claims linking him to Vasco da Gama. Speaking to TBR Football, a spokesperson for the Russian billionaire denied any plans to invest in the Brazilian club. “The rumours that Dmitri Rybolovlev is looking to buy Vasco da Gama are not true,” the representative stated. The spokesperson did not comment on whether Rybolovlev had received offers for AS Monaco, either from Amanda Staveley or her investment firm PCP Capital Partners.
While Adam Williams, a journalist for TBR Football, acknowledged that Rybolovlev appears open to proposals for Monaco, there is no indication of urgency to finalise any sale. As it stands, the billionaire continues to oversee a club that currently occupies third place in Ligue 1.
