Tuesday, April 21, 2026 -Former Arsenal and France star Mathieu Flamini recently met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace after becoming ‘the world’s richest former footballer’.
Flamini shared photos from his meeting with King Charles at
Buckingham Palace, where he attended a summit alongside other business leaders
in the bioeconomy sector.
Captioning his Instagram post, the former Arsenal midfielder
said: “His Majesty King Charles is stepping up for the bioeconomy. Europe is at
a turning point. Act now, or fall behind. The U.S. is scaling. China is
accelerating.
“Meanwhile, Europe’s industrial edge, especially in
chemicals (now just 13 per cent globally) is shrinking. The solution? Green
chemistry. The technology is ready. What we need is speed and ambition.
“Now is the moment for bold action in Biotech Act II: Create
demand (30 per cent bio-based by 2030) (and) Extend CBAM to chemicals.
“Europe won’t win on price with China, but it can lead on
innovation, sustainability, and responsibility. Strong leadership is here. Now
it’s time to deliver.”
The 42-year-old, who represented France at the international
level, has built significant wealth since ending his playing career in 2019.
Flamini is a co-founder of GF Biochemicals, a company
developing sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products, and is estimated
to have a net worth of £10billion.
GF Biochemicals focuses on replacing petrochemicals with
greener alternatives for industrial use across a range of sectors, including
industrial manufacturing and production.
Since hanging up his boots in 2019, Flamini has become a
prominent figure in climate innovation and environmental issues.
After co-founding GF Biochemicals nine years before his
retirement from professional football, he subsequently took on the position of
CEO.
Flamini has previously said his interest in environmental
matters began at a young age, saying: “As a child, I had two passions: football
and sustainability.”
Flamini made 246 appearances during two spells at Arsenal.
He first joined the Gunners following their 2003-04 Invincibles season from
French side Marseille, where he started his playing career.
His first stint at the Emirates lasted four seasons, during
which he helped the Gunners lift the 2005 FA Cup.
Following a spell in Italy with AC Milan, where he won Serie
A in 2010-11, the Frenchman returned to Arsenal in 2013 and won another two FA
Cups during his second spell in north London.
He left Arsenal in 2016 and later played for Crystal Palace
and Spanish side Getafe, where he finished his playing career in 2019.
Flamini won three caps for France and was voted Arsenal
Player of the Season in 2007-08.
0 Comments