JT: I'm staying! Chelsea offer captain £150k a week to see off Manchester City

27 July 2009 11:17
John Terry has snubbed Manchester City and committed his future to Chelsea, citing their ambition and Carlo Ancelotti among his key reasons for staying. Terry ended weeks of speculation when he issued a statement from the team hotel here ahead of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Club America of Mexico in which he said leaving ‘was never a possibility’. It is a major blow to City manager Mark Hughes, who had identified the 28-year-old England captain as the man to lead the revolution at Eastlands and was ready to pay him £250,000 a week. Chelsea are expected to open talks with Terry on improved terms for the remaining three years of his contract and, although owner Roman Abramovich is not prepared to go anywhere near City’s offer, he will make him the club’s highest earner, above Frank Lampard, on more than £150,000 a week. Terry said: ‘There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future, and I want to clear this up once and for all. I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been. ‘Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer. ‘When you are linked with any club, or with a manager who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines, but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility. ‘I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier. ‘However, throughout this period, there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea board, and we all agreed that the timing of any statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas. ‘What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea’s ambition remains as high as ever. 'This has been further proved by the appointment of manager Carlo Ancelotti. I am certain he will take this club on to the next level. ‘Another important factor was knowing Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us on to greater success. ‘I’m as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team for as long as I can.’ It is understood Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery is high on the list of targets wanted to strengthen the squad. Hughes will take little consolation from the fact that City went close to luring Terry. The Chelsea skipper was certainly tempted by the financial offer and the brand new challenge but there is no guarantee when City will be able to offer Champions League football to their recruits. It is the second major public snub for City, who tried and failed to land Kaka in January. They have spent £80million this summer on Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz but still need reinforcements in defence. It appears a £15m deal for Arsenal’s Kolo Toure is close, though Hughes is expected to intensify his efforts to sign Everton’s Joleon Lescott while he may also turn to West Ham defender Matthew Upson after missing out on Terry. Terry later added in an TV interview: 'Yes of course, I've put a statement out today, and it's been a long time since I said anything but there were talks between myself and the club, a few things I wanted to get resolved and I think the club made it quite clear early on they weren't interested in a bid. 'We had discussions about that, about a few players staying which was very important for me. Once we got those issues out of the way which we have done now it is finally time to make a statement and move on and get the lads settled.' Carlo Ancelotti, John Terry Key factor: Terry says the appointment of Ancelotti was integral to his staying at Stamford Bridge 'We've had a good pre-season so far, a couple of wins and now we can concentrate on the football side of things.' When quizzed on why he allowed the saga to roll on without making his own feelings clear, the England skipper said:''I was on holiday when I got the call from Peter [Kenyon] to tell me about Man City. I've been here for 14 years now, I want to keep it that way and win a lot more trophies here. 'Roman was out of the country, I wanted to have talks with him and Peter, Peter was busy trying to do things for the Football Club so it's hard to get everyone together at the same time. 'I was on holiday and was due back four days later so we arranged to meet and we had a few meetings back in London and a couple here as well since we have been in America and finally it has all been resolved and we can move on now.' Frank Ribery (R) of Bayern Munich French fancy: Ribery is the next Chelsea target The centre half added that he understood the fears of the fans but reassured them that he never intended to leave Stamford Bridge. 'Of course, I've known all along the outcome of all events, it's just a case of taking its time and getting it right. It's a case of doing things correctly and we feel as though from a club and personal point of view we have done things how we wanted to do things, we haven't reacted to the press and come out an done a statement to please them, we have done things right and that has been key because people have been out of the country. True Blue: Terry can now focus on Chelsea's quest for honours this season True Blue: Terry can now focus on Chelsea's quest for honours this season 'I've been trying to concentrate on pre-season and keeping fit, Peter has been away and it has been difficult to sit down and have proper talks but we can move on now.' 'I've been here 14 years and the manager has made me captain and hopefully for the years ahead. I've had a great rapport with the fans since I came through and they have played a massive role in where I am today and I think that relationship will never be broken between us.' Terry was also eager to stress the Ancelotti-factor was important in persuading him to stay. 'I've been really impressed [with Ancelotti], and as a man as well. I've had conversations with him on the training field and his knowledge speaks for itself. 'He has been very successful as a player and a manager and he can relate to the players playing nowadays and I think that will be key in the season ahead of us. 'He was a proper player, he lets us know and joins in a bit as well. He says he didn't have much ability but I think he is undermining himself a little bit, and he has a great respect in the game for what he has done as a player and as a manager.' 'We are fortunate to have him and everyone is fighting for their places again. For people who were out of the frame last year it's a chance for them to wipe the slate clean and maybe push for a place in the team, so things are buzzing around the camp at the moment.' The Chelsea captain also had a few words of praise for the latest additions to the Chelsea squad. 'Yes, they've done well, come in and done their songs. '"Studge" [Daniel Sturridge] wasn't bad at all, he's got a good voice on him, Yuri [Zhirkov] is quite a shy lad but great ability and Ross [Turnbull] as well. It's great to have him in addition to the other two keepers. We've made some good signings in the summer and we'll be seeing them playing a key part in Chelsea's success this season. 'Liverpool, Man United have lost big players, we haven't and we are looking to strengthen as well. The ambition of the club has really impressed me and the other guys and we are pushing in the right direction of where we want to be, pushing for the Premiership and the Champions League again, and the other trophies available to us.'

Source: Daily_Mail