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From Russia with love (and £460m fortune)... meet Reading's mega-rich new owner
By Sami Mokbel
PUBLISHED: 21:30 GMT, 18 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:30 GMT, 18 April 2012
The Barclays Premier League's next mega-rich Russian owner insists he is ready to spend big this summer to make Reading a major force.
Businessman Anton Zingarevich will be at the helm in time for the Berkshire club's top-flight return - after agreeing to buy the Royals for £25million from John Madejski.
Zingarevich - whose family is worth around £460million - revealed his company Thames Sports Investments are working on a summer shopping list of high-profile players.
Russian in: Anton Zingarevich (centre) celebrates Reading's promotion
'We have been scouting for the past three weeks and already have a shortlist, so we'll see what happens,' Zingarevich told BBC Radio Berkshire. 'We will definitely make some moves.'
Reading's takeover was due to be completed last month and, after a delay, Zingarevich is confident the deal will soon be done.
You said it: The Royals are returning to the top flight for the first time since 2008
'It is all on course,' he said. 'There is a lot to develop here but the infrastructure already in place is key.
'We have already started looking at upgrading the academy and the training facilities. If we stay up after the first year then we will upgrade the stadium.'
Zingarevich already possesses some of the attributes to become a big player in the Premier League next season. Obviously, he has the cash - but he also has a supermodel wife in Katsia Zingarevich.
And Reading fans can bask in the knowledge that their new owner has a long-standing affiliation with the Royals.
The 29-year-old studied at nearby Bearwood College and watched Reading from the terraces of their former home Elm Park.
Meanwhile, outgoing owner Madejski, who will remain club chairman, said: 'When we got relegated from the Premier League, the ambition was to get back and we have achieved this now.
'The Zingarevich family have deep pockets and can take the club further. I could not have done this. This is a golden era for Reading.'
By Sami Mokbel
PUBLISHED: 21:30 GMT, 18 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:30 GMT, 18 April 2012
The Barclays Premier League's next mega-rich Russian owner insists he is ready to spend big this summer to make Reading a major force.
Businessman Anton Zingarevich will be at the helm in time for the Berkshire club's top-flight return - after agreeing to buy the Royals for £25million from John Madejski.
Zingarevich - whose family is worth around £460million - revealed his company Thames Sports Investments are working on a summer shopping list of high-profile players.
Russian in: Anton Zingarevich (centre) celebrates Reading's promotion'We have been scouting for the past three weeks and already have a shortlist, so we'll see what happens,' Zingarevich told BBC Radio Berkshire. 'We will definitely make some moves.'
Reading's takeover was due to be completed last month and, after a delay, Zingarevich is confident the deal will soon be done.
You said it: The Royals are returning to the top flight for the first time since 2008'It is all on course,' he said. 'There is a lot to develop here but the infrastructure already in place is key.
'We have already started looking at upgrading the academy and the training facilities. If we stay up after the first year then we will upgrade the stadium.'
Zingarevich already possesses some of the attributes to become a big player in the Premier League next season. Obviously, he has the cash - but he also has a supermodel wife in Katsia Zingarevich.
And Reading fans can bask in the knowledge that their new owner has a long-standing affiliation with the Royals.
The 29-year-old studied at nearby Bearwood College and watched Reading from the terraces of their former home Elm Park.
Meanwhile, outgoing owner Madejski, who will remain club chairman, said: 'When we got relegated from the Premier League, the ambition was to get back and we have achieved this now.
'The Zingarevich family have deep pockets and can take the club further. I could not have done this. This is a golden era for Reading.'
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