Roman Abramovich refused to make any transfers to Tottenham as Carlton Cole revealed he had blocked the move
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has refused to sell one of his former Chelsea stars to rivals Tottenham – even blocking Carlton Cole’s move.
The former Blues forward revealed the Russian oligarch – who bought the west Londoners in 2003 – would not approve a deal with Spurs.
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Cole continues talking talkSPORTsaid: “I almost switched to Spurs. I got medical exams and everything.”
“Roman Abramovich found out and said, ‘You have to come back, you don’t join them’.”
“He said, ‘You can’t go spores“I don’t do business with them.”
The only Abramovich-era Chelsea player to join Tottenham was Carlo Cudicini, with the reserve goalkeeper allowed to leave on a free transfer in 2009.
Cole revealed that Abramovich instead tried to persuade him to move to Russia.
He continued, “‘I have an alternative for you'” [said Abramovich]. I’m driving back to Stamford Bridge with my uncle and my father.
“He had his interpreter with him. Roman Abramovich was there, we talked. I asked, ‘Where am I going?’
“He said: ‘I will give you a new contract, but you have to go to CSKA Moscow. His other team.’
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“I tried to get into the England national team. Back then you couldn’t go abroad. If you go abroad, you don’t get into the England national team.”
“So I said to him, ‘I’m not going to CSKA Moscow, mate.’
Spurs and Chelsea had a bitter rivalry on and off the pitch.
Emotions escalated on the pitch, leading to the Battle of the Bridge in 2016, when several players from both sides clashed.
Abramovich came close to buying the Spurs before taking over the Blues.
It has been suggested that he only picked Chelsea when they qualified for the Champions League under Claudio Ranieri in the 2002/03 season.
An obsession with the English Premier League began which, after two decades, resulted in multiple top-flight titles and two Champions League titles.
But the party ended for Roman, who was forced to sell last year.
However, the rivalry between Chelsea and Spurs lingers, particularly as the two clubs have had the same managers in recent years.
Tottenham boss Daniel Levy appointed both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte following their respective Chelsea stints.
While new Blues owner Todd Boehly hired ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino earlier this summer.
The next meeting between the two sides is scheduled for November 4 in a thrilling encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Cole, who made his career at Stamford Bridge, finally left the club in 2006 to join West Ham.
He has previously revealed he has left the club due to lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea.
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