Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev makes record £340million sale — but it’s an official Leonardo da Vinci painting which cost nearly double Kylian Mbappe
Russian billionaire was owner of Salvator Mundi, a painting of Jesus
MONACO’S owner Dmitry Rybolovlev has raked in his biggest profit yet — but this time it wasn’t for a footballer.
The Ligue 1 champions were forced to sell off their top stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Benjamin Silva for huge amounts after a very successful season.
But Rybolovlev has gone to make even more money by selling the most expensive painting in history.
The Russian billionaire was the proud owner of Salvator Mundi, Leonardo da Vinci’s long-lost painting of Jesus Christ.
CAMP SWITCH Chelsea want former Monaco chief Luis Campos to replace Michael Emenalo
And he exchanged it for a whopping £340MILLION — nearly double the price of Mbappe, who joined Paris Saint-Germain for £160million.
Monaco’s entire summer income was “just” £326m.
Incredibly, the painting had changed hands for just £45 back in 1958, following claims it wasn’t an official Da Vinci.
It finally came into Rybolovlev’s hands in 2013, when he bought it for £97m.
The painting overtakes Willem de Kooning’s Interchange, which sold for £228million in 2015, as the most expensive artwork in history.
Monaco fans will hoping some of the money raked in could be used bring in some new top players.
As well as Mbappe and Mendy, the Principality side also sold Bernardo Silva to Manchester City — and Fabinho is also expected to leave.
While rivals PSG have gone from strength-to-strength.
Monaco are currently second in Ligue 1, but there is a gulf in class between themselves and the capital side.
Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists have only picked up two points in Europe’s premier competitions this season.