Roman Abramovich breaks three-year silence on forced sale of Chelsea: Sanctioned Russian billionaire reveals his future plans in football in rare public statement

Roman Abramovich has spoken for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced him into selling Chelsea three years ago, with the secretive billionaire wanting to attend a game so he can bid a 'proper goodbye' to his beloved Blues.

Abramovich announced in March 2022 that he had no choice but to seek a sale amid accusations that he was an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin – an allegation which led to the UK government sanctioning him later that same month.

However, a new book, called Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, paints a picture of Abramovich working secretly and tirelessly in peace talks from the invasion's get-go, including the day after he was poisoned in a Kyiv apartment.

Abramovich sold the club to the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium in May 2022 with the £2.5billion in proceeds being placed into a frozen UK bank account, so they could be donated to charities supporting victims of the war in Ukraine.

Abramovich agreed to be interviewed for the book, revealing also how he never wants to own another club after losing Chelsea, who he purchased for £140million in 2003 to trigger a trophy-laden era.

When asked on 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.

Roman Abramovich owned Chelsea for almost two decades, winning five Premier League titles

He was forced to sell the club in 2022 amid accusations that he was a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin

Abramovich revealed he wants to return to Chelsea at some point to say a 'proper goodbye'

'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.'

Abramovich also said he would not allow himself to be distracted by the accusations towards him, including from the UK government. '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.'

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