Daniel Sanchez Llibre, the Espanyol majority shareholder and former President, believes the club’s ‘suffering is over’ now Chen Yansheng is taking over.
Yansheng’s Rastar group bought a controlling stake in the Catalans in late October and Sanchez Llibre has discussed what the development means for the club.
“With the Rastar group there is a guarantee of stability. The club will be in a good place. We want to be fourth, fifth or sixth,” he revealed, AS reports.
“It’s an impressive project. I know Mr. Chen and the project. The investment will be between €65m and €100m. A portion goes to the creditors and another to the tax office. They are two points of concern.
“I’m hopeful. Not everyone can propose a project like this. People should be proud Espanyol is worth so much. Recently it was said these shares were worthless. They’re now worth €78 and some €80.
“It’s a club with a future. We get what we always dreamed. Cornella-El Prat will be a fortress. The suffering is over.”
Regarding the specifics of his involvement, Sanchez Llibre insisted he wouldn’t return to the office of Presdient.
“I can rule that out. I did it for 14 years. I know what it’s like, I enjoyed it, I suffered…When Chen doesn’t need me, I’ll leave. There are professionals at the club who have to run it,” he continued.
“The only serious offer was from Rastar. Even last week there was an offer from a group that I thought was horrible for our club.
“Chen has a lot of work [in China] which is what brings his income. I don’t know what he intends to do. He can always come here, of course. Maybe there’ll be a powerful Vice-President, I don’t know.”
