Aprreciating the best Chelsea owner of all  time: John Terry labels Roman Abramovich ‘the best owner’ of Chelsea

John Terry labels Roman Abramovich ‘the best owner’ and vows to help fund giant banner of Russian to be displayed at Stamford Bridge, despite oligarch’s links to Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine

John Terry has pledged to help fund an enormous banner adorned by the image of Roman Abramovich.

The Chelsea owner, who is in the process of having the club sold after all his assets were frozen by the government due to his links to Vladimir Putin, is still regarded as a hero by some supporters and Terry is unapologetically among them.
A number of oligarchs have been sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent atrocities, but Terry is a staunch defender of Abramovich.
Some Chelsea fans are trying to raise funds to pay for a giant flag with the billionaire emblazoned on it.

One wrote: ‘I don’t usually ask for contributions but I’m looking to raise £3200 for a 100ft x 50ft crowd surfer to thank Mr Abramovich for all he’s done for Chelsea.

‘I’ll put £500 towards it. If you feel you can contribute, please PayPal fanzine@cfcuk.net. Any money over will go to charity.’

Terry, who played for the club between 1998-2017, replied: ‘I’m in. The best owner.’

The 41-year-old played 717 times for the club over almost two decades and starred under Abramovich’s ownership of the club since 2003.

Abramovich has been directly linked to Putin and Terry’s support of the oligarch has led to widespread criticism.

Last month, Labour MP Chris Bryant said: ‘This is appalling. I think John Terry you should take this down ASAP (referring to a tweet of support).

‘The people of Ukraine are being bombed, shelled and murdered while you celebrate Abramovich.’

Abramovich has been forced into selling the club Sky News reported on Thursday that he demanded an additional £500million, taking the total price to £2.5bn, of which £1bn will be donated to charities.

As detailed by Sportsmail on Tuesday, the three remaining bidders for Chelsea have begun their final pitches, with the preferred bidder initially expected to be chosen this week – before Abramovich’s latest demands.

Still in the running to replace them are a consortium led by Sir Martin Broughton, the former Liverpool chairman, and another headed by LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly.

The third group had included Steve Pagliuca, who co-owns the Boston Celtics, and Toronto Maple Leafs backer Larry Tanenbaum.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a last-minute, £4billion offer to buy Chelsea, taking on the other bidders in the 11th hour.

The owner of Ineos, the petrochemicals company, said he had held discussions with the Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck on Thursday and decided to make the stunning offer.

‘We put an offer in this morning,’ Ratcliffe told The Times. ‘We are the only British bid. Our motives are simply to try and create a very fine club in London.

‘We have no profit motive because we make our money in other ways.’

The British billionaire, who also owns French side Nice, submitted his offer to Raine Group, the merchant bank conducting the sale process, on Friday morning.

It takes the number of suitors back to three after a consortium led by the Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, withdrew from the race.