Roman Abramovich is hoping that he will get the chance to say a “proper goodbye” at Chelsea following his sale of the club in May 2022.
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Acquired the Blues in 2003Sold Premier League giants in 2022Has not returned to west LondonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prominent figures around the world were forced by local governments to part with prominent assets due to alleged ties with Vladimir Putin. In Abramovich’s case, that meant bringing his reign at Stamford Bridge to a close.
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Having acquired the Blues for £140 million ($189m) in 2003 – overseeing Premier League and Champions League title triumphs – Abramovich sold to the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium for £2.5 billion ($3.4bn).
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Abramovich has not been back to west London since, as he lives a secretive life away from the spotlight, but has given a rare interview and discussed his departure from English football for the first time in a new book called
GettyWHAT ROMAN ABRAMOVICH SAID
In that, when asked about Chelsea and the future, Abramovich 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.”
