10 Players Who Stole A Living From Chelsea

1. Adrian Mutu

The headline player for this article is also a unique case in the history of players taking Chelsea for a financial ride. The Romanian infamously had his contract cancelled after failing a drugs test, resulting in a seven-month ban from the FA and a £20k fine. The Blues demanded compensation through the courts and were granted ‚17 million in damages, though numerous appeals by the player and liability being split between the player and the clubs he subsequently joined, Livorno and Juventus, ensured Chelsea have yet to see a penny. Mutu was signed in 2003 for £15.8 million, one of many big money acquisitions by Roman Abramovich in his first year of ownership of the club. Having scored an impressive 18 goals in 31 appearances for Parma the preceding season, Mutu's bright start at Chelsea saw him score four in three games and heralded as the reliable goalscorer the club had long been searching for. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his good form and he subsequently struggled to get back in shape, finding the net only two more times in the league that season and 10 times overall. The departure of Claudio Ranieri and arrival of Jose Mourinho saw bad times get worse for the Romanian, whose attitude was repeatedly called into question by his new manager. Outright hostility was declared when Mutu publically accused Mourinho of lying to prevent the striker from playing in a World Cup qualifier. With the player having failed a drugs test in September 2004, his contract was finally annulled the following October following internal investigations. Mutu saw out his ban and joined Juventus via Livorno in 2004, going on to enjoy a successful career with a number of Italian clubs before ending up back in his homeland with Petrolul Ploiesti. Chelsea, on the other hand, saw their fight for compensation has been a drawn out affair which has seen the club to date unable to recoup any of the considerable losses they incurred on the player. In terms of a player stealing a living from a club, there are few more disgraceful examples than Adrian Mutu's time with Chelsea. Which other players do you think stole a living from Chelsea? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.