Verstappen teases Hamilton with Arsenal dig amid role in Chelsea takeover bid

Max Verstappen was quick to poke fun at Lewis Hamilton after reports that the Mercedes man is part of a plan to buy Chelsea Football Club.

Sky News claimed on Thursday that the Formula 1 icon has agreed to pump millions into Sir Martin Broughton's consortium to buy the club from Roman Abramovich. The Russian is selling the Blues after being slapped with sanctions amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Broughton is the former chairman of Premier League rivals Liverpool, but is now considered one of the leading candidates to be running things at Stamford Bridge. He is not the only one with ties to Chelsea's rivals, though, as Hamilton has in the past professed his love for another London giant.

Hamilton's planned investment of £10m in exchange for a "tiny percentage" of the Blues comes in spite of his support for Arsenal. That conflict of interest has not been lost on his F1 rival Verstappen, who questioned the seven-time world champion's loyalty to the Gunners.

"I am a PSV fan and I would never buy Ajax," the Dutchman told the PA news agency. "And if I was going to buy a football club I would want to be the full owner and to take the decisions myself, not own just a tiny percentage.

"I thought he was an Arsenal fan? And if you are an Arsenal fan going for Chelsea, that it is quite interesting. But everyone does what they want with their money so let's see what comes out of it."

What do you make of Lewis Hamilton's plans? Have your say in the comments section.

According to the report from Sky, Hamilton would 'play a formal role in Chelsea's future efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion' if the consortium's bid to buy the club is successful. He is not the only high-profile sports star involved with the plan, as tennis ace Serena Williams is another who has stumped up cash.

She already has experience of running a football club, as a part-owner in Angel City FC. The women's club, based in Los Angeles, is currently playing its first ever season having been created by a group of female celebrities including the likes of actress Natalie Portman, model Eva Longoria and rap star Becky G.

Broughton, who is also backed by Lord Coe, might not have to wait too much longer to learn if his attempts to buy Chelsea have been successful. Raine Group, the bank overseeing the sale of the club, could put their preferred bidder in front of the UK Government this week.

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