Abramovich's old Russian apartment up for sale

Abramovich marrying Olga in a Moscow register office in 1988

The 40-square-metre flat has been put on the market by Olga Abramovich, the billionaire's first wife, and it was home to the couple during their married years, when the Soviet Union was collapsing and the future Chelsea owner was a hustling market trader trying to make ends meet.

According to an unauthorised biography of Mr Abramovich, it was in this apartment that the billionaire uttered the words: "One day I'm going to buy the whole world."

At the time, Mr Abramovich was selling plastic toys in the market and the apartment only had two rickety chairs. If the couple had guests they had to sit on boxes and friends found the delusions of grandeur amusing. One of them told him that he should concentrate on buying a second pair of trousers instead. Mr Abramovich, of course, had the last laugh, going on to become the richest man in Russia and earning renown for his extravagant purchases on art, yachts and properties across the globe, not to mention a certain west London football club.