Ex-Chelsea forward reflects on lost glory: "My mistakes cost me a Ballon d'Or"

Adrian Mutu arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2003 as part of Roman Abramovich's ambitious project and showed glimpses of brilliance in his early months in the Premier League. However, his time in England was abruptly cut short after he tested positive for cocaine in a doping test, leading to his immediate dismissal from the London club.

In a recent interview, the Romanian reflected on the incident and its consequences: "It was the worst mistake of my life. I was going through a tough time and made the wrong decision. There are no excuses – I should have asked for help," he admitted.

Beyond the professional fallout, Mutu regrets missing the chance to cement his name among football's greats: "For a period, I was among the best players in the world. Had I not made those mistakes, I could have won the Ballon d'Or easily."

His departure from Chelsea led to years of legal battles, ultimately forcing him to compensate the club financially. However, Mutu insists that the greatest price he paid was failing to fulfil his full potential: "I learned a lot from it all. It made me mature, but football waits for no one."

Despite the setbacks, Mutu continued playing at a high level in Italy and for his national team, but he never returned to the elite tier of world football. His story serves as a reminder of how off-field decisions can shape a player's destiny.