A Chelsea insider has claimed that former owner Roman Abramovich “was blind” and “his hair was falling out and his skin was peeling off his hands and his face” after a meeting with Ukrainian delegates in 2022.
Abramovich, 58, bought Chelsea in July 2003 for around £140m and quickly turned them into one of English football’s most powerful clubs.
His ownership coincided with 19 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.
However, in March 2022, the Russian billionaire was sanctioned by the UK Government following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as he has alleged ties with President Vladimir Putin, which he has previously denied.
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Also in March 2022, Abramovich made public his intention to sell Chelsea.
A statement read: "In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club's sponsors and partners.”
In May of the same year, a Toddy Boehly-led consortium completed a £4.5bn takeover of the football club.
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Very little information has been reported about Abramovich since, but Nick Purewal, the author of Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, has revealed that Abramovich took a meeting with Ukrainian delegates against his doctor’s wishes in 2022.
Speaking on The Sports Agents, which is available to listen to now on Global Player, Purwal claimed that Abramovich met for talks with Ukrainian delegates in Ukraine, Purwal said: “When the war broke out, the Ukrainian government contacted more than 40 people of standing, influence, fame, all those sorts of things. High net worth individuals. Abramovich was the only person who agreed to help.
“Because everyone else was scared, and the characterisation people have of him, and I think I've seen, is that he's so sanguine about everything.”
He alleged: “He [Abramovich] and two people he was with had dinner in an apartment that was set up for them, and the last thing he remembers is stepping into a separate room to take a phone call, and then he blacked out.
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“When he came to hours later, he couldn't see. He was blind, and his hair was falling out, and his skin was peeling off his hands and his face.”
Purwal continued: “He was sat there in these meetings with his eyes just watering constantly, his sight not fully returned.
“They were told that the member of the Ukrainian delegation, who was the envoy to the Russian delegation… He'd been shot dead in the street two days earlier. So, that was the point at which they thought, this isn't a coincidence.”
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It must noted that the information is alleged and has not been confirmed by Mr Abramovich.
Topics: Roman Abramovich, Ukraine, Premier League, Champions League, Todd Boehly, Football
Luke Davies