Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and celebrated great successes with The Bluessuch as multiple Premier League titles and twice the Champions League. He became one of the most famous club owners in the world.
Chelsea locked
But in 2022 there was an end to that successful marriage. Due to the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Abramovich ended up on the sanction list in Great Britain and the club Chelsea was locked. Contracts were no longer allowed to conclude with players and staff members, while it was no longer allowed to sell tickets and merchandise.
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In the end, the Russian billionaire could not help but let Chelsea go and Todd Boehly -Clearlake Capital took over the London club – with a value of almost 3 billion euros.
Roman Abramovich hopes for farewell
Yet the love for Abramovich towards Chelsea has not been cooled, it is clear in the book Sanctioned: The inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC. In it he indicates that he will be able to say goodbye to Stamford Bridge someday. “Perhaps there will be a situation in which I can attend a match and say goodbye, but no more than that.”
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with the Champions League in 2021 and then captain César Azpilicueta. Credit ANP/HH
A return to professional football is excluded in Abramovich. “I am not interested in a role at a football club, certainly not in a professional role. Maybe something comes my way where I could help with academies and young people or to give people with a difficult background more opportunities. With ownership or another role at a club I am ready for this life.”
Sanctions on Roman Abramovich
Abramovich was placed on a sanction list by the British government and is still there. This despite the fact that he was several times involved in attempts to negotiate and play a major role in the release of five British soldiers who were captured when they fought for Ukraine.
“There is an old Russian saying: The dogs bark, but the caravan keeps driving. That fits here, “he says somewhat cryptically.” Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some agenda. In the end I did what I did, just to try to help. “