Chelsea: To Russia with love

By European Football
January 27 2005

Lecce starlet Valeri Bojinov, will go to CSKA Moscow providing he signs for Chelsea first? (No I don’t entirely follow it either, but then again the only Bulgaria person I know was the one out of the Wombles, and he was a bit doddery at times).

Anyway, back to one of the last bits of sanity I am trying to hold on to. Reports in the Italian media over the last few days have suggested that the Bulgaria international was about to make an 8.5 million pound move to CSKA Moscow. But the 18 year old seems less than enthralled by the prospect of a life in Russia and explained to Gazzetta Della Sport, that the only way he could consider the move would be if he were actually signed by Chelsea:

"With all respect to CSKA, I'd like to wait for proposals from Italy and maybe from other leagues like England, Spain, Germany, and France."

"I'm only 18-years-old and I can't accept a move with the only consideration being the financial aspect.”

"I don't want to be tied to CSKA now and then not have the possibility of joining an important Italian club or, maybe Chelsea. That would be another thing."

And indeed he could have a chance as Chelsea have been spoken of as great admirers of Bojinov, and the admiration seems reciprocated as far as the player and the Chelsea owner are concerned:

"I can imagine how important an owner like Abramovich is."

"For this, I'd accept a solution that would see my transfer to Chelsea and then the loan to CSKA Moscow."

"But I'd be tied to Chelsea for five years, knowing that one day I could try an adventure with the Londoners."