Avram Grant turned down the chance to stay with Chelsea during his sacking talks, it has been revealed.
But as Grant earned £3.5m a year as Chelsea boss, he was effectively being offered a £3m pay cut to stay at the club.
One pal declared: "Roman is treating Chelsea like one of his businesses in Russia. The problem is its not about metal, oil and gas, it's people he is dealing with and he is being totally ruthless.
"How could Avram have accepted a new job of Director of Football, which effectively meant taking a pay cut of £1.5m a year. It's nonsense.
"Anyway, no other coach would have come in knowing that Avram was still in the background - they would have been worried he would have been after his old job back.
"Avram said he doesn't trust them any more. It was not a friendly meeting all. Avram does not want anything to do with the club at all now.
"He didn't even want to discuss his compensation, which will run into millions. He told Roman to speak to his lawyer."
Another pal in Israel added: "Avram took the job because of his friendship with Roman. He trusted him. He knew it was going to be difficult to replace Mourinho but he accepted the challenge.
"The team were in a bad state when he started but Avram got them going again and then steered them to the Champions League final and second in the Premier League.
"He thinks he has done very well and has been sacked unfairly."
