Roman Abramovich blocks Wayne Bridge's move to Man City over Robinho

Roman Abramovich has personally blocked Wayne Bridge's projected move to Manchester City.

Chelsea's billionaire owner remains incensed that his club lost Brazilian superstar Robinho to City in the wake of their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United group.

Chelsea had worked tirelessly for months to prise the British record £32million signing out of Real Madrid.

In the final hours of the August transfer window City pulled off their coup and Abramovich missed out on the player he coveted most and the feud with City began.

Now City want Chelsea left-back Bridge. Manager Mark Hughes was confident he could prise the England international away from Stamford Bridge with the promise of regular first team football and a healthy pay rise.

But Abramovich has made it clear to club officials he will not do business with City - at any price.

Bridge only signed a new four-year contract in the summer worth around £85,000 a-week. It's claimed City would offer a staggering £120,000 a-week to get their man when the January window opens.

Seeing their efforts to sign Bridge blocked are not the only transfer frustrations facing City's Arab owners.

Two other key targets, Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra and Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, are unlikely to be allowed to move by their current clubs.

Pompey have already snubbed two bids in excess of £15 million for Diarra while Paul Ince has been given firm assurances that Santa Cruz will not be allowed to leave Ewood Park until next summer at the earliest.