According to reports from London Evening Standard, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has confirmed his interest in bringing captain John Terry to Al Arabi.
The Blues skipper has been at the heart of the west London outfit’s miraculous decline this season, enduring their eighth defeat of the campaign last night after losing to 10-man Stoke City in a Capital One Cup penalty shootout, and found himself subbed off for the first time by Jose Mourinho during a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in August.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season as part of Chelsea’s one-year renewal policy, the 34 year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge is shrouded in more doubt than ever before.
The former England international has already received several offers of potential next destinations since the summer, particularly from Turkish side Fenerbahce and several Chinese clubs, but reports earlier this week revealed he could also be offered an escape route to the Middle East by Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, who is now in charge of Qatari outfit Al Arabi.
The Italian won two FA Cups, a League Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and two Player of the Year awards during his seven seasons with Chelsea. After management spells with West Ham, Watford and Cagliari, he took the post at Grand Hamad Stadium in July this year.
And according to London Evening Standard, the 49 year-old has now confirmed his interest in signing the veteran centre-back – but admitted no negotiations are currently taking place.
He said; “John Terry is a big player and Al Arabi is interested in big players so we will see what happens. There is a chance because it is one of the places where people want to go. The quality of life is very high here.
“There are clubs that pay well for the players to come so I wouldn’t be surprised if I see John Terry playing in this country maybe next year, maybe in two years I don’t know exactly when. The connection is easy – me and John played together and have a very high opinion of each other so it comes quite natural to do that.
“I cannot say that it is impossible because you never know. I can tell you there are no contacts right now, that’s for sure,” he added.