The Times says in legal papers filed as part of his "clash of the oligarchs" court battle with Boris Berezovsky, he claims that he is not involved in the day-to-day running of the club.

The £2billion case at the Commercial Court in London centres on Berezovsky's claim that he was forced to surrender oil and aluminium assets.

Abramovich has taken exception to Berezovsky's legal documents, which claim that he "owns and directs the management of Chelsea Football Club". Abramovich's defence states: "It is admitted that the defendant owns Chelsea Football Club, but it is denied [in so far as relevant or necessary] that he directs the management of that club."