Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich refuses to sell any of his side's players to rivals Tottenham - and even pulled the plug on Carlton Cole's move to White Hart Lane despite the striker completing a medical with Spurs.
The Blues and Tottenham share bitter hostility and Abramovich - who bought the Stamford Bridge club in 2003 - continues to ensure the historic rivalry is upheld.
He refuses to let any of his stars leave west London for Spurs and the only player to join Tottenham from Chelsea during his time as owner was goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who left on a free transfer in 2009.
And Cole recalled his transfer being blocked by Abramovich despite him being on the cusp of completing the move.
"I almost joined Spurs. I went and did my medical and everything," the former England man told talkSPORT .
“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 came through the ranks at Chelsea's academy before signing his first professional deal in 2000 and starting his first senior game two years later.
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Rather than let him leave for Spurs, Abramovich proposed Cole join Russian Premier League giants CSKA Moscow on loan.
Cole added: "'I've got an alternative for you' [said Abramovich]. 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.'"
Cole eventually left for another of Chelsea's London rivals by joining West Ham in 2006 after making 31 appearances for the Blues.
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