In 2009, Roman Abramovich was said to have personally intervened in the signing of fellow Russian Yuri Zhirkov. Though still at Chelsea, the left-side wing back was largely confined to the bench during his time at the Bridge and spent most of his time in London asking to leave. The versatile midfielder played 29 games in two years at Chelsea before being sold to Anzhi for a reported £13.2 million.
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
