Wang Jianlin, the chairman of Dalian Wanda, said his path to fortune had been nothing like that taken by the Russian oligarch.
"It's a shame to be compared to the Russian billionaire. I feel ashamed to be mentioned with him," he said.
"He accumulated his wealth by monopolising his country's natural resources," Wang was quoted as saying in the China Daily newspaper on Wednesday. "I set up my business empire step by step, competing fiercely in the market."
Wang insisted he would not use Chinese football as his private recreation. The Dalian chairman said investment in Chinese football was "necessary support to push it out from the bottom."
He added: "[Abramovich] treats football as a kind of amusement in his luxury life while I am really concerned about the sport's poor situation in the country.
"I am keen to lift it from the valley."
"After all the [corruption] I hated the game deeply at that time," said Wang. "I can't say I still love football now.
"However, as an entrepreneur I felt the responsibility on my shoulders so I just came back to push it. I am not a saviour."
