Asked under oath how the email made her feel, Granovskaia replied: “Very uncomfortable would be an understatement. I felt physically threatened because of the language used and the fact it was being made personal, and referred to an incident involving Kia.”
Granovskaia later confirmed her personal security was increased following the email and added: “It made me feel very nervous and threatened that I might be faced with some people demanding some money from me. After I reported this issue my security arrangements changed.”
The jury were told by Mr Asante that agent Kia Joorabchian was allegedly confronted in a restaurant by people acting for Alrubie, who took his watch and refused to return it until payment was made later when approximately 12 men turned up at his office and ordered him to pay in bundles.
Asked by Mr Asante if she was aware of an incident involving Joorabchian, Granovskaia replied: “Yes, I remember hearing something about it.”
When it was put to Granovskaia that her knowledge of the incident made her feel threatened, she added: “That’s right.”
As well as describing her reaction to the email, Granovskaia explained how she moved from Moscow to London in 2004 after Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and started working in personal asset management and “back office administration” at Stamford Bridge.
Granovskaia told the court: “I was around a lot of what was going on and then he [Abramovich] started to ask about certain matters and my opinion. From commercial and catering to at some point match-day activity then player transfers and player activity.”
It was in 2010 that Granovskaia said she started acting for Abramovich on transfers, which resulted in her taking over that department, and she said: “Then it seemed to make sense to give me the official position [of director in charge of transfers] in 2012.
“Pretty much everything to do with football I was in charge of. Everyone to do with football reported to me, including medical, and I was responsible for the majority of player contracts, buying players and selling players.”
Under cross-examination by defence barrister Matthew Radstone, Granovskaia denied telling Zahavi she had agreed to pay Alrubie and his partners. She also denied bad-mouthing Alrubie to former Chelsea player Rudiger and disagreed with Radstone’s claim that she had turned down an attractive offer to extend the defender’s contract.
“It wasn’t [attractive],” said Granovskaia. “We weren’t interested in a one-year extension. I believe those conversations took place during discussions about Rudiger going out on loan a year or two prior. The proposal to extend one year and let him go on loan was not attractive as he would have come back [to Chelsea] with one year left on his contract.”
Asked about the nature of her relationships with Joorabchian and Pastorello, Granovskaia said both were “professional” and “friendship” and did not extend past that.
The case continues.
