Terry: I didn’t hold Chelsea to ransom over City switch
ENGLAND and Chelsea captain John Terry insists his delay in snubbing Manchester City was not an attempt to coax a pay rise from his current employers.
Terry says that as yet he has not been rewarded with an improved contract for turning down the £250,000 a week deal on offer at Eastlands.
A new deal worth around £150,000 is, however, reported to be in the pipeline for the 28-year-old, who has spent over half of his life at Chelsea.
But Terry is adamant he just needed reassurances over the futures of key players, not more cash, before he made a public pledge to stay at Stamford Bridge.
“I have got three years left on my current deal and from day one it has not been about a new deal. We have not spoken about any contract talks over the last month or five weeks,” said Terry.
“I wanted reassurances about people like Ashley Cole – he and Frank Lampard were our best players last year. I just wanted reassurances that key players like Ashley and Didier, who are in contract talks at the moment, are going to be staying and that was a key factor for me.”
Chelsea have so far failed to land a widely expected marquee summer signing, but Terry says he has been reassured by owner Roman Abramovich and chief executive Peter Kenyon that the club are still big hitters in the transfer market.
He added: “The club have put in a few good bids for players across the world, and they have told me about a few signings they tried to make and they just fell short a couple of times. I am pleased with that, from all the players not just my own.”
New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has hailed Terry’s commitment to see out his career at the club. “I am happy – not only me is happy but all the club and the fans,” the Italian said. “It’s very important but I was sure as I know John Terry – he is very professional and his leadership within the club, and I said to him to have trust in me.”