Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich makes massive statement

4. What does Roman Abramovich’s decision mean for the future?

Football media has built this narrative over the last four years that Abramovich seems interested in selling Chelsea. These talks stemmed from the Russian’s visa being expired, his refusal of entry and subsequent removal of another visa application. Abramovich has settled down in Israel, where he recently became a citizen. I can count on one hand how many times the Blues’ owner has travelled to England (that we know of, at least) ever since. Yet, any discussion regarding his eagerness to sell is completely fabricated.

Abramovich remains as committed to Chelsea as ever. He’s put a lot of time and effort into building a successful brand both on and off the pitch. The Blues were recently crowned Champions of the World for the first time following their triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup, which represented the pinnacle of Abramovich’s near-two decades as owner. Chelsea has also provided a lot of assistance to the local communities in west London during the COVID-19 pandemic and it remains heavily invested in numerous charities to kick discrimination of all forms out of the sport.

The club finally looks to have established a model for long-term success on both fronts, as well. Chelsea is undoubtedly one of the business projects Abramovich is most proud of and it’s easy to understand why. The Blues are perhaps the model for how a football club should be run as they have perfected success on the pitch, as a business and as a staple in the community.

Despite Abramovich’s plans to step away for the time being, there is no questioning his long-term commitment. The Russian absolutely loves his football club, its staff and most importantly, its fans. I don’t think it’s too farfetched to say that many of the Blues supporters share those feelings for their owner, as well. The English government has done what it can to defame the reputation of the Russian recently. While one still must acknowledge his shady business history, there is no question that he genuinely cares about the Chelsea community. As the owner, he is invested in making the world a better place and there’s something to be said for that at the end of the day.

There are obviously always going to be suitors getting their ducks in a row at the first mention in the media of Abramovich wanting to sell. Nevertheless, even though he has stepped down from his role as owner for the time being, his future is as clear as ever. Abramovich remains committed to Chelsea. In all likelihood, he will resume his post once the fighting in Ukraine subsides. For the sake of all involved parties (speaking as a human being now, not a football supporter), I hope that day comes sooner rather than later.

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