Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich ended a three-year absence from UK football by watching Chelsea host Man United – and he has the chance to watch his side play two more games in four days if he remains in London.
Abramovich, who bought the reigning Champions League winners in 2003, had not attended a game at the club’s Stamford Bridge home after visa complications had prohibited him travelling to the United Kingdom.
However, Abramovich watched Thomas Tuchel’s league leaders rescue a point against Manchester United with a 1-1 draw on Sunday, according to a report.
Abramovich is said to have been there in person to see Jorginho equalize from the penalty spot after Jadon Sancho’s opener, when the England livewire capitalized on a calamitous error from the the Italy international early in the second half.
//www.instagram.com/p/CW3YtdJgPCm
The 55-year-old was not spotted by TV cameras despite the game being broadcast live in the UK and around the world, The Telegraph has said.
Abramovich – who became an Israeli citizen in 2018 – was in London last week to add his support to a campaign opposing anti-semitism, hosting Israeli president Isaac Herzog as part of an exhibition at Stamford Bridge about Jewish athletes.
He also paid a visit to the the Holocaust Galleries at the Imperial War Museum.
A spokesman for Abramovich said he had not attended Chelsea’s conclusive 4-0 Champions League win at home to Juventus on Tuesday after he opted to return to Moscow to attend a charity event.