Sport
Romelu Lukaku was Abramovich’s last great Chelsea mistake
There are much bigger concerns in regards to the sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich but, from a purely footballing point of view, the impact on Chelsea will be severe.
As much as Thomas Tuchel has tipped the club to continue competing with the elite, the simple fact of not having a Russian oligarch’s money to play with will obviously change the landscape.
Take Romelu Lukaku for a prime example.
Since 2003, Chelsea have been able to suck it up if a big-money signing does not work. Such was the nature of their backing, the tap would never be turned off. So much so, that the long-running “curse of the Chelsea No.9” became a joke.
Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevcenko, Adrian Mutu, Radamel Falcao (a loan – but an expensive one) and Alvaro Morata have all been gobbled up by the Chelsea machine, and discarded with little consequence.
Life under Abramovich meant the club could afford it. Who, frankly, cares when you consistently win trophies and can just go out and buy another shiny new toy the following summer?
Now, whoever takes charge of the club from here might have the financial backing to keep Chelsea competitive towards the top of the game. They are extremely unlikely, however, to run it so care-free in that respect.
Here’s where Lukaku comes in.
The Belgian international’s struggles since his major money move back to Stamford Bridge are well-documented. Had Lukaku signed for Liverpool or Arsenal, the money tied up in such investment could ruin the club for years.
At Chelsea, or Abramovich’s Chelsea, it doesn’t matter. Kai Havertz, who cost over £70m himself, can lead the line in big games while Lukaku – the most expensive player in the history of the game in cumulative transfer fees – deputises in various cup games.
Quite how Lukaku’s future plays out isn’t clear. At 28, getting anything close to the money they’ve paid for him will be very difficult for the new owners.
Teammate Kepa Arrizabalga remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all-time and is firmly second-choice at Chelsea. Recouping the huge fee spent on him will be as tricky. The club have been ruthless in their pursuit of quick-fire upgrades, because they could afford to be.
Going forward, that will not be the case. Perhaps that’s healthier, both from a financial perspective and a moral one. There’s nothing wrong with being run like Liverpool, after all.
It is possible to match state-run clubs. It’s just that Chelsea will now presumably have to find another way, such as Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp have managed at Anfield.
Newcastle United offer a different challenge in the upper echelons of the Premier League which, in terms of morality, is equally as depressing.
The model might have changed from the early Abramovich years as time went on but the great expenditure in the summer of 2020, while the rest of the world was gripped by a pandemic, proved that he was still willing to spend in a way most others can only dream about.
Chelsea might still have a successful future. Given the level of interest in the club, it’s hard to see them reverting to their midtable position, it’s just that the glory days to the extent we’ve known them since 2003 are over.
To lament that would be crass, particularly given the noise surrounding Abramovich. For fans, this has been the most exciting period in the club’s history but nothing lasts forever. Change isn’t always for the worse.
Where Chelsea go from here will be absolutely fascinating. Things will change.
