Shakhtar CEO doubts Mudryk would be sold to Chelsea under Abramovich

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Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has said he doubts Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk would have joined Chelsea had the club still been owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Speaking to the Athletic, the UEFA Champions League official revealed that a deal would have been hard to conduct with Chelsea for Mudryk had the west London side still been in Abramovich’s ownership, with the former Blues figure having strong ties to Vladimir Putin amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Palkin said on if Mudryk would have refused to join Chelsea if the Premier League side were still owned by Abramovich: “I think yes, because if there was no new owner of Chelsea, there would be a lot of critics in respect of us, because of these kinds of connections. Maybe even impossible.”

Abramovich was and remains sanctioned by the UK government leading the former Governor of Chukotka to ultimately sell the club to American businessman Todd Boehly, who in his first year as owner of Chelsea has spent big on new players, with Mudryk the biggest of the bunch.

As per the Athletic, Chelsea beat Arsenal to Mudryk’s signature in a deal worth €100m (£88m), the biggest transfer of the January window so far and an incredible sign of intent from Boehly in his new venture as owner of the west London side.

Indeed, Arsenal looked clear favourites to sign Mudryk this month. However, Chelsea’s offer and overall package was more alluring to both Shakhtar and the 22-year-old winger, with the youngster signing a £100,000-a-week contract that lasts until 2031.

Mudryk joining Chelsea under Abramovich would have made headlines

Mudryk signing for Chelsea under Abramovich is something that would have struck a nerve with many supporters of both the Blues and rival teams. However, given that Boehly is now owner of the west London side and that Shakhtar have donated as much as £25m to help Ukraine against Russia, it is difficult to label the Premier League club as villains.

After all, it would make complete sense for Mudryk to turn down Chelsea had Abramovich still be in charge. But, with Boehly now owner and looking to take the Blues away from the Russian oligarch’s era at the club, focussing on ‘what ifs’ is both damming to both Mudryk and the teams involved, as well as Ukraine.