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Roman Abramovich was an unknown billionaire when he took over Chelsea in 2003. The Russian oligarch transformed the west Londoners from Champions League qualifiers into Premier League winners within two years - and cemented his legacy at Stamford Bridge in doing so. His reputation for many years was that of a brutally harsh but passionate football club owner. His firing of talented managers such as Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at the first sign of trouble underlined his desire to be successful at all times. The perception of the former Chelsea owner has been tarnished in recent years. Abramovich was forced to sell the club in 2022 due to sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs with ties to Vladimir Putin following the country's invasion of Ukraine. Roman Abramovich 'Didn't Do Business' With Tottenham Carlton Cole played for the Blues from 2001 to 2006 before departing for West Ham United on a permanent basis. The retired striker has revealed since hanging up his boots that he was actually set to move to another Premier League club. That was until Abramovich caught wind of the pending transfer and personally stepped in to stop the deal from going through. That club was London rivals Tottenham. Cole explained in a 2023 interview (per The Sun): "I almost joined Spurs. I went and did my medical and everything. “Roman Abramovich found out and he said ‘you’ve got to come back, you’re not joining them’." The Chelsea owner insisted he wouldn't do any business with the north London outfit and demanded Cole return. The ex-England man added: "He said ‘You can’t go to Spurs, I don’t do business with them’. I’ve got an alternative for you’ [said Abramovich]. I drive back to Stamford Bridge with my uncle and my dad. “He had his interpreter with him. Roman Abramovich was there, we were talking. I was saying ‘where am I going?’" Abramovich then tried to tempt Cole into renewing his contract at Stamford Bridge and a move to the other club he owned, CSKA Moscow. Cole refused, as he continued: “He said, ‘I will give you a new contract but you’ve got to go to CSKA Moscow. His other team. I was trying to get into the England team. Those days you could not go abroad. If you go abroad you don’t get in the England team. “So I said to him, ‘I ain’t going to CSKA Moscow, pal."
