Former Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu has admitted that his career was derailed by drug use, acknowledging that he could have “easily” won the Ballon d’Or if not for his cocaine use during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Mutu, who joined Chelsea from Parma in 2003, initially made a strong start but soon fell out of favor, especially after a difficult relationship with manager José Mourinho. His career took a significant downturn in September 2004 when he tested positive for cocaine, leading to a seven-month suspension and the termination of his Chelsea contract.
In an interview with The Telegraph published on Thursday, Mutu reflected on his past and admitted that his drug use was a major mistake that cost him dearly.
“Taking cocaine during my time at Chelsea was the worst decision I could have made in my career,” Mutu said. “I was alone and sad, but neither depression nor anything else justified my actions. Zero tolerance—that was Chelsea’s policy regarding drugs. And I think that’s fair.”
The Romanian forward also acknowledged that he struggled to handle the pressure and lifestyle in London, which contributed to his downfall. “I made a mistake, strayed from the path, and paid the price for it. I was caught off guard. I wasn’t used to that life. I was unprepared. I arrived at Chelsea during a turbulent time in my personal life, and I found myself caught up in too many excuses and lies. I was too young and too alone.”
Despite the setbacks, Mutu remains confident in his abilities and believes he had the talent to win football’s most prestigious individual award. “I’ve reflected on that many times. I believe that for more than a season, I was amongst the best players in the world, so I could have won it (Ballon d’Or) easily. But bad decisions prevented me from doing so. I try not to beat myself up about it.”
Mutu’s career had initially shown great promise. After joining Inter Milan as a 20-year-old in 2000, he made a name for himself at Parma, scoring 22 goals in 36 games during the 2002-03 season. His performances caught the attention of Chelsea, who had just been taken over by Roman Abramovich, with hopes that he would be a key part of their new project. Mutu even received a Ballon d’Or nomination, earning the same number of votes as players like Ronaldinho, Filippo Inzaghi, Jan Koller, and Francesco Toldo.
However, his form quickly declined. After scoring four goals in his first three games, he only managed two more in his next 22 league appearances. With Mourinho’s arrival in 2004, Mutu’s struggles deepened. Off-field issues, including drug use allegations, caused tension between him and the club.
By September 2004, Mutu’s time at Chelsea ended when he failed a drug test. The club, left with no choice, terminated his contract, marking a sad end to his career in London.