Not a happy sailor! Roman Abramovich looks glum amid the super-rich trappings of St Barts after hosting celebrities including Paul McCartney and Wendi Deng on his £1.2billion yacht despite being banned from the UK
- The Chelsea owner looked downcast as he departed his £1.2billion yacht Eclipse
- His British visa was not renewed in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack
- The 52-year-old has not been seen in London since and has Israeli citizenship
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich looked glum today as he came in to land from his super-yacht on the island of St Barts.
The Chelsea owner, whose £1.2billion vessel Eclipse has attracted Paul McCartney and Wendi Deng for post-Christmas holidays, left for his helicopter as the sun set on the Caribbean island on Saturday.
The 52-year-old has faced visa problems this year in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack, which led to a clampdown on Russian money in Britain.
Wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts, the billionaire looked downcast as he arrived on shore and prepared to leave in his helicopter.
Russian billionaire and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, centre, looks downcast as he comes in to land from his £1.2billion yacht Eclipse on the Caribbean island of St Barts
As Abramovich left the yacht today a child nearby wore a Chelsea shirt with the name and number of Alvaro Morata, a striker for the club, on the back.
On Friday he hosted 76-year-old Beatles star McCartney, who spent the holiday in Saint Barthélemy along with his wife Nancy Shevell, 59, and daughter Stella, 47.
The musician was spotted touching down in St Bart’s aboard a private plane on Boxing Day.
Wendi Deng, the ex-wife of Rupert Murdoch, was also seen boarding the Eclipse with her children on Friday.
The 533ft Eclipse, which is officially registered in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, was delivered to Abramovich in December 2010.
It features two helipads, 24 guest cabins, two pools, several jacuzzis, an on-board club and three fast launch boats to carry passengers ashore in smaller ports.
On Friday Russian billionaire Abramovich hosted 76-year-old Beatles star McCartney, left, and Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife Wendi Deng, right, aboard the Eclipse
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s vessel Eclipse, pictured in Italy in 2013, features two helipads, 24 guest cabins, two pools, several jacuzzis and an on-board club
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and has overseen a series of triumphs at the club, including a Champions League title in 2012.
But his British visa was not renewed earlier this year, in the aftermath of the Novichok attack in Salisbury in March.
Britain has accused the Kremlin of ordering the attack on former spy Sergei Skripal, a claim Moscow denies.
Abramovich was granted Israeli citizenship in May and has not been seen in London since.
Later the same month Chelsea postponed plans to redevelop their stadium, citing an ‘unfavourable investment climate’.
The announcement sparked rumours that Abramovich had cancelled the plans in response to the visa delay.
Abramovich looks on during a Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in 2016. He has not been seen in London since his visa was not renewed