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Posted

who knew?

gunners! saving the world.

Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini’s billion-dollar secret 57 minutes ago
Michael BlausteinNew York Post

Mathieu Flamini kept his billion-dollar idea a secret for seven years.

A BENCH-WARMER on one of Europe’s biggest football teams might be worth more than the American billionaire who owns the team — and he kept his fortune a secret from his friends, family and teammates for seven years.

Mathieu Flamini, a 31-year-old Frenchman who currently plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League, secretly created a company that made a scientific breakthrough that could bring an end to the use of fossil fuels.

Flamini’s company, GF Biochemicals, announced this week it had figured out how to mass-produce levulinic acid, an organic compound that can replace oil in all of its many forms.

In theory, GF Biochemicals’ discovery means an end to gasoline, biofuels and plastics as we know them. It also means Flamini’s company could be the first entrant in a brand new market worth upward of $30 billion.

Not bad for a guy who once jilted Arsenal for Italian giants AC Milan back in 2008.

Flamini celebrates a goal for Arsenal.

At the time, Flamini was the engine of Arsenal’s midfield, but left the club after failing to negotiate a new contract.

He signed with Milan, but failed to impress his new club and was relegated to the bench. With his newfound free time, the Frenchman focused on his non-soccer interests — one of which was the environment.

He soon met Pasquale Granata and the pair secretly started GF Biochemicals — GF stands for Granata-Flamini — with Flamini personally pumping millions into the new venture.

“For seven years, I haven’t mentioned it to anyone,” the Arsenal man told The Sun in a lengthy interview.

“I was always close to nature and concerned about environmental issues, climate change and global warming. [Granata] was on the same wavelength. We were looking how we could make a contribution to the problem.

“After a while, we found out about levulinic acid. It’s a molecule identified by the US Department of Energy as one of the 12 molecules with the potential to replace petrol in all its forms.

“We financed the research by the Milan Polytechnic. After several months we came up with the technology of how to produce LA on an industrial scale, meaning cheaply and cost-effectively. We patented it.”

Flamini is doing remarkable things.

With patent in hand, GF Biochemicals started building chemical plants. The company now employs 400 people.

Flamini, however, didn’t tell the public, or his teammates, about his side career until this week.

“My Milan teammates probably found out in our launch this week, and my Arsenal teammates will probably find out reading this,” he said.

“I don’t think [Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger knows. I never spoke to him about it. I wanted it to be all in place first, up and running and announce it when I was ready.”

Flamini returned to Arsenal in 2013 following his unsuccessful spell in Italy. He has made five appearances for Arsenal this season and scored two goals.

Posted

Also, news worthy...

Police search for 'motorised picnic table' drivers seen travelling through Perth's Scarborough Beach area

Updated about 3 hours ago

"There are overall safety concerns particularly if a traffic incident was to occur, resulting in the persons subjecting themselves to potential injury."

The police said those involved "could face a number of charges including driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving an unroadworthy vehicle and drink driving".

Last year, a Perth man was arrested for driving a motorised esky down a major road, while earlier this year two men, one in Victoria and one in South Australia, were also arrested for driving motorised eskies.

SOURCE:- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/police-investigate-'motorised-picnic-table'-drivers/6949832

  • Like 1
Posted

Also, news worthy...

Police search for 'motorised picnic table' drivers seen travelling through Perth's Scarborough Beach area

Updated about 3 hours ago

SOURCE:- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/police-investigate-'motorised-picnic-table'-drivers/6949832

"Police are concerned for the safety of those riding on the tables with no protective clothing, especially when on roads alongside motor vehicles"

I am sure they are reaching dangerously high speeds on these sleek adrenaline rockets, how irresponsible, they should be all jailed and their picnic food confiscated. shead.gif

  • Like 1
Posted

that could bring an end to the use of fossil fuels.

It also means Flamini’s company could be the first entrant in a brand new market worth upward of $30 billion.

If levulinic acid can end the use of fossil fuels in all its forms, how is the market only worth $30 billion?

  • Like 1
Posted

absolutely no idea. just the messenger.

Sorry Ken. I asked in general. Should not have quoted what you wrote.

  • Like 1
Posted

motorised picnic tables and an end to fossils fuel reliance .. all in one day. I may need to lie down

Posted

Good, now loan Arsene 60 million to buy a striker, since Stan evidently isn't paying.

best idea of the day.

mind you, every report seems to be flammers will be moved on end of season.

Posted

best idea of the day.

mind you, every report seems to be flammers will be moved on end of season.

Ken, there's a select group of Gooners that have banded together on Reddit and Twitter this week after the news. They have already allocated part of Flamini's billions to be spent in the January transfer window. None of it true but quite a good laugh reading their wishlist. I will see if I can find the thread again and post it here.

Posted

Ken, there's a select group of Gooners that have banded together on Reddit and Twitter this week after the news. They have already allocated part of Flamini's billions to be spent in the January transfer window. None of it true but quite a good laugh reading their wishlist. I will see if I can find the thread again and post it here.

please do. perhaps he could buy the club! mind you, arsene might get a smidge nervous.

i know about twitter but have no idea what reddit is or does.

i did see messi has said that if he ever went to the premier league, it would only be arsenal. of course, that is provided they can pay him 600,000 pounds a week. mind you, with marketing sales, the massive interest he'd bring from asia, africa and around the globe, plus a fair chance he'd help us over the line in a few competitions, he'd probably be worth it.

Posted

please do. perhaps he could buy the club! mind you, arsene might get a smidge nervous.

i know about twitter but have no idea what reddit is or does.

i did see messi has said that if he ever went to the premier league, it would only be arsenal. of course, that is provided they can pay him 600,000 pounds a week. mind you, with marketing sales, the massive interest he'd bring from asia, africa and around the globe, plus a fair chance he'd help us over the line in a few competitions, he'd probably be worth it.

Not to mention the club would use Messi as an excuse to raise ticket prices again. Away fans think £63 is robbery? Arsenal have no shame when it comes to gouging supporters. Imagine what they'd charge with Messi. He'd pay for himself several times over, regardless of the fee and his wages. Of course it won't happen, but it's still fun to dream. Right now I'd settle for this Nolito fella.

Posted

I think players of that standing pay for themselves too, Real Madrid apparently recouped the purchase fee for Ronaldo (70m) from shirt sales with his name on within two weeks of him arriving.

i gather they could not believe how cheaply they got beckham, and it took them less than a week to pay for him.

  • Like 1
Posted

Exactly what I was thinking.

If levulinic acid can end the use of fossil fuels in all its forms, how is the market only worth $30 billion?

Posted

And stand by for massive job losses in the petro chemical industries.pod.gif

Posted

I would have read the entire article up to the point that it mentions he was speaking to the S*n Newspaper.

No disrespect to the player and good on him.

I just don't read anything from that rag.

Justice for the 96.

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