Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants to return to the club but vows never to own a football club again.
The Russian billionaire presided over the most successful era in the Blues' history. After taking over the west London side in 2003, he oversaw five Premier League triumphs, five FA Cups and three League Cup wins.
He also helped Chelsea secure their long-awaited first European title in 2012, followed by a second Champions League trophy in 2021. But Abramovich was forced to step away and sell the club a year later after being sanctioned by the UK government in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Todd Boehly and Clearlake's consortium then completed a £4.25billion takeover. Now, Abramovich has voiced his desire to return to Chelsea to bid a proper farewell to the club, having completely ruled out owning a football team again.
The Daily Mail report, in a new book titled Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, he said: “Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that.
“I don't have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role. There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds, if there were an initiative that could make a difference. But as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.”
After selling Chelsea, Abramovich was ordered to allocate £2.5bn from the sale to support Ukraine. Yet, the funds remain in a UK bank account, with the government threatening legal action against the 58-year-old, reports the Mirror.
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion.
Todd Boehly looks on
Todd Boehly completed a takeover at Chelsea after Roman Abramovich's exit (Image: Getty Images)
"We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach an agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible."
Abramovich dismissed those allegations. “There is an old Russian saying, 'The dogs bark but the caravan keeps moving,' and that fits here,” he also told the book's author, Nick Purewal. “Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda. In the end, I have done what I have done simply to try to help.”
Former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel revealed that Abramovich still holds onto frustration over the circumstances of the Stamford Bridge club’s sale. Mikel said: “It’s just unfortunate what happened: he lost the football club. I still speak to people close to him and it still pains him.
"He’s still angry about what happened. He’s not happy that he lost his ‘baby’ because Chelsea Football Club was his football club. He really cared about the football club, not just the players but the fans.”
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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