Former Arsenal player Mathieu Flamini denies he is a multi-billionaire after success of biomechanicals company

Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has gone on record to state he is not a multi-billionaire.

The Frenchman – now plying his trade at Spanish club side Getafe – was forced to make the statement following rumours surrounding his finances.

Off the pitch, Flamini is the co-owner of company GF Biochemicals, who are manufacturers of a substitute for oil.

Speaking to L’Equipe , Flamini said: “It is important to rectify things, contrary to what I read, I do not have €30billion in my bank account.”

“This sum does not correspond to the valuation of my company GF Biochemicals, in fact, it is the total value of the market that we want to attack with the new technologies that we have developed in recent years.

“There was a misunderstanding, it is as if we had given only one restaurant the value of the entire catering market in France.”

Flamini moved to Getafe on a free transfer in February, but it is his success off the pitch which has garnered the most interest.

He co-founded his company back in 2008 with business partner Pasquale Granata.

GF Biomechanicals are the only company to produce levulinic acid directly from biomass – including things such as grass or woodchips.

Now considered an environmental entrepreneur, there has been much speculation surrounding Flamini’s net worth.

The former AC Milan and Marseille player has been compared to superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he is reportedly worth more than.

But the 34-year-old states that it is not money that is his objective in this field.

“At that time, I was a bit surprised, of course … when you’re a public person, you learn to read between the lines to have some distance from what they have written about you.

“But I must say that this whole story is a bit painful, because I did not get involved in this business to make money, my main motivation has always been to have a positive impact on the environment, I think this is an area where we all have a role to play.”    (Mirror)