Reports have emerged as to how Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich took control of the transfer deal to bring Kai Havertz to Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old joined from Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal on Friday in a move believed to be worth in the region of £70million.

And according to the Express, Abramovich took the wheel instead of boss Frank Lampard in conducting business as he pushed to sign Havertz.

They claim that the Russian billionaire and the Blues board were desperate to secure the signing of the German playmaker this summer.

With other potential suitors such as Real Madrid not having the funds to sign Havertz this window due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chelsea wanted to land the player now.

And fans of the West London club will be hoping Havertz doesn’t flatter to deceive like Andriy Shevchenko.

The Express add that the former Ukrainian striker was the last big-money signing that Abramovich pushed for regardless of how the manager felt.

Chelsea signed Kai Havertz on Friday and the German has already been involved in training with his new team-mates.

Havertz was signed from Bayer Leverkusen as Frank Lampard continues his summer overhaul.

And, having left the German national team to complete his signing, the playmaker has made sure he makes the most of the final week of pre-season.

Less than 24 hours after sealing his club-record move to the west London outfit, Havertz reported for the club’s Cobham training base for a light session.

With most of the first-team squad away on international duty there was to be no immediate reunion with compatriot Timo Werner, although it won’t be long before the pair are training together.

Thanks to the club’s official photographer, images of Havertz’s first Chelsea training session have surfaced.

The Blues’ fitness coaches put the 21-year-old through his paces and there was also some shooting practice for the attacking midfielder.

Photo Credit: Twitter/ChelseaFC

Roman Abramovich refused to sell any of his Chelsea stars to rivals Tottenham – and blocked Carlton Cole’s switch.

The former Blues striker revealed the Russian oligarch – who bought the West Londoners in 2003 – would not sanction any deal with Spurs.

Cole, speaking on talkSPORT, said: “I almost joined Spurs. I went and did my medical and everything.

“Roman Abramovich found out and he said ‘you’ve got to come back, you’re not joining them’.

“He said ‘you can’t go to Spurs, I don’t do business with them.’”

Cole added that Abramovich said: “‘I’ve got an alternative for you’. I drive back to Stamford Bridge with my uncle and my dad.

“He had his interpreter with him. Roman Abramovich was there, we were talking.

“I was saying ‘where am I going?’

“He said, ‘I will give you a new contract but you’ve got to go to CSKA Moscow. His other team.

“I was trying to get into the England team. Those days you could not go abroad. If you go abroad you don’t get in the England team.

“So I said to him, ‘I ain’t going to CSKA Moscow, pal.”

Lionel Messi admits his son Thiago cried and asked him not to quit Barcelona.

The Catalan giants’ talisman caused huge uproar when he announced he was leaving the Nou Camp side after a series of complaints against the club’s board.

And, after his father’s talks with the club, the Argentine has decided to remain at the Spanish giants for another year having previously expressed a desire to leave.

Messi concedes it was an immensely emotional decision that involved his whole family.

His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, supported him throughout but it was his eldest son’s reaction that really affected him.

Messi told Goal: “All this time it has been hard for everyone. He was clear about what he wanted, he had assumed it and said it. My wife, with all the pain of her soul, supported and accompanied me…

“Yes, Mateo is still young and he doesn’t realize what it means to go somewhere else and make your life for a few years elsewhere.

“Thiago yes, he is bigger. He heard something on TV and found out something and asked. I didn’t want to know anything about being able to leave, having to live in a new school or make new friends.

“He cried to me and said ‘let’s not go’, I repeat that it was hard, really. It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision.

“I will continue at Barça and my attitude will not change no matter how much I have wanted to go.

“I will do my best. I always want to win, I’m competitive and I don’t like to lose anything. I always want the best for the club, for the dressing room and for myself. I said it at the time that it was not giving us to win the Champions League.

“Actually, now I don’t know what will happen. There is a new coach and a new idea. That’s good, but then we have to see how the team responds and whether or not it will give us to compete. What I can say is that I’m staying and I’m going to give my best “

Former Super Eagles defender Ajibade Babalade died on Friday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after suffering cardiac arrest.

According The Punch, the 48-year-old died while being rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He is survived by a wife and three kids, who are all based in the US.

The hard-tackling defender was a squad member of the Eagles that won bronze at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

Babalade began his professional club career at Stationery Stores of Lagos in 1990, before several stints at 3SC, helping the Oluyole Warriors reach the final of the CAF Champions League in 1996.

He played professionally abroad at Ivoirian side, African Sports, Anyang LG Cheetahs (Korea), SK Sturm Graz (Austria) and Indian club Mohun Bagan AC.