Adrian Mutu’s time at Chelsea is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Despite flashes of brilliance, his Stamford Bridge spell is overshadowed by controversy, a mistake he deeply regrets but insists shouldn’t define his career.

Chelsea signed Mutu for £16 million in August 2003 as part of Roman Abramovich’s first transfer window, a summer of lavish spending that saw stars like Damien Duff, Juan Sebastián Verón, Joe Cole, Hernán Crespo, and Claude Makélélé join the club. The Romanian forward arrived with high expectations and wasted no time making an impact.

He scored four goals in his first three Premier League games, including a brace in a 4-2 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. Under Claudio Ranieri, he was a regular in the side that finished second in the league. But when José Mourinho took charge in 2004, everything changed.

Downfall Under Mourinho

Mutu’s relationship with Mourinho soured quickly. A dispute over his fitness for an international fixture created early tension. Mourinho insisted he was injured, but Mutu disagreed and played for Romania anyway. Soon after, disaster struck.

In October 2004, reports emerged that Mutu had failed a drug test for cocaine. The Football Association handed him a seven-month ban, and Chelsea, operating under a strict zero-tolerance policy, terminated his contract.

“Taking cocaine during my time at Chelsea was the worst decision I could have made in my career,” Mutu admits. “I was alone and sad, but neither depression nor anything else justified my actions.”

Mourinho didn’t mince words, later stating: “I would never sign him again.” Mutu’s downfall led to a long legal battle, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually ruling that he had to repay Chelsea millions for breach of contract.

Though Mutu fought against the decision at the time, he now accepts that his punishment was fair.

“Chelsea had a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs, and that’s fair. I made a mistake, strayed from the path, and paid the price,” he reflects.

“I was caught off guard by life at Chelsea. I was unprepared. I arrived during a turbulent time in my personal life, and I made excuses. I was too young and too alone.”

Mutu believes his career could have been vastly different had he avoided those mistakes.

“For more than a season, I was among the best players in the world. I could have won the Ballon d’Or,” he claims. “But bad decisions prevented me from doing so. I try not to beat myself up about it.”

Lessons for Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea are currently dealing with another high-profile failed drug test, as Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium in December 2023. The Ukrainian winger denies knowingly breaking the rules, but his future remains uncertain as an investigation continues.

Few people understand the turmoil Mudryk is facing better than Mutu.

“I don’t know what sanction he is facing, but he continues to defend his innocence,” Mutu says. “The only thing I can tell him is to focus on his return, not to lose the excitement of being the player he was.”

A Career Beyond Chelsea

Despite his controversial exit from Stamford Bridge, Mutu went on to enjoy a long and successful career, particularly in Italy. He played for Juventus and Fiorentina, working under legendary managers Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello. He scored 35 goals in 77 appearances for Romania and rediscovered his best form in Serie A, scoring over 50 goals for Fiorentina alone.

“Italy put me on the international map again,” he says. “After such a turbulent time in England, it gave me a second chance. At Juventus, we won two league titles, but I was happiest at Fiorentina.”

However, issues off the pitch followed him. In 2010, he served another drugs ban while at Fiorentina. He was also temporarily suspended from the Romania national team for a late-night drinking incident while on international duty.

Still, he insists his achievements post-Chelsea should be acknowledged more.

“People Should Move On”

Mutu feels that his story is too often reduced to his Chelsea scandal, particularly in England.

“They should appreciate my comeback more!” he insists. “It’s been 23 years since Chelsea, and a lot of lies have been written about me, especially in your country.”

“I’ve moved on, and they should too. I was a child then, and I paid for it. Since then, I’ve won awards, achieved many things, and completely rebuilt my life. Now, I have a beautiful family and a promising coaching career.”

Mutu is currently working on a documentary about his life and has already published a book.

“No one in your country has written about this!” he says. “Yes, I made mistakes, but I bounced back stronger and wiser. Lesson learned.”