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Abramovich Ends Three-Year Silence
Roman Abramovich has broken his silence for the first time since the forced sale of Chelsea in 2022, opening up about his future in football and lingering frustrations over frozen funds from the £2.5 billion deal.
The Russian billionaire sold the Premier League club to the Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital consortium after the UK government sanctioned him amid accusations of ties to Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m Done with That in This Lifetime”
In a rare public statement featured in Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC by Nick Purewal, Abramovich confirmed he has no plans to re-enter club ownership or take on a professional role in football.
“I don’t have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role,” he said.
“As for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.”
Abramovich did leave the door open to potentially support youth development or social initiatives tied to the sport. “There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds,” he said.
Wants Proper Goodbye at Stamford Bridge
The 58-year-old expressed hope to one day attend a match at Stamford Bridge to say farewell to Chelsea fans in person.
“Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that.”
Legal Battle Looms Over Frozen Funds
Tensions remain between Abramovich and the UK government over the £2.5 billion in proceeds from Chelsea’s sale. The money is locked in a UK bank account and was earmarked for victims of the Ukraine conflict. Abramovich wants the aid to be more broadly distributed to victims on both sides of the war.
The UK government, led by finance minister Rachel Reeves and foreign minister David Lammy, has voiced its growing impatience.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
“We are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”
Abramovich Reflects on Accusations and Legacy
Addressing the public scrutiny he’s faced, Abramovich dismissed the claims as part of the political climate surrounding his exit.
“There is an old Russian saying, ‘The dogs bark but the caravan keeps moving.’ That fits here,” he said. “Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda.”
Abramovich’s tenure at Chelsea transformed the club’s stature. Under his ownership, the team won 21 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.
