Chelsea legend John Terry Said he was close to joining Manchester United

Chelsea legend John Terry has revealed that he was close to signing for Manchester United when they courted him for an entire year before he finally made the decision to join Chelsea in 1995. 

John Terry was Regarded as one of the best defenders in the world at his peak, he is considered to be one of the greatest central defenders of his generation, as well as one of the best English and Premier League defenders ever.

The defender played or Chelsea for 19 successful years and won five (5) premier league title, five FA cup, one champions league, one UEFA Europa League and one FA Community Shield.

After impressing at youth level with West Ham United, a 14-year-old, Terry was already demanding the attention of multiple top sides. United and Arsenal were both anglings for his signature and the Red Devils invited him up to train on multiple occasions to try and convince him of a move. 

Terry even travelled up to Manchester with a young David Beckham when the midfielder went to sign his first professional contract with the club. 

However, the defender felt an immediate connection with the Blues when he first walked through the doors at Stamford Bridge and never looked back. 

‘I actually went up to Man United for a year, so I was kind of travelling up in school holidays, I went up with David Beckham when he signed his first pro contract,’ Terry told the Footballer’s Guide to Football podcast.

‘We went up in the car together, I was there on a two-week training camp. 

‘I went up, stayed up for a couple weeks every school holiday really on my own, which was tough to be fair, being away from home. 

‘Then I had the option between Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United and to be fair all of them went above and beyond. 

‘The moment I walked into Chelsea, it just felt right, I know that’s going to sound really bizarre.’

‘Again, my dad never wanted me to sign for Chelsea,’ Terry added. 

‘Actually, on the pitch of me signing my schoolboy form at the club, my dad refused to go on the pitch with me. 

‘I’m in the tunnel, the players are coming off the pitch and I’m waiting in the tunnel, Glenn Hoddle goes past and my dad’s going, “You’re not signing for this football club, we should sign for Man United”. 

‘Again, me being me at the time I’m going, “I’m 100 per cent I’m signing here, if you don’t come out with me I’m going out to sign”.

‘And you needed a parent, so my mum said she would come and sign it with me, my dad’s going mad at my mum, “No you wont”. 

‘There’s a picture of my mum and Graham Rix signing my contract, but my dad refused and absolutely kicked off that night. 

‘Again, me being the character I was, I knew Chelsea was right for me. 

‘One night that was probably supposed to be one of the best nights of my life turned out to be a tough one for a young 14-year-old to be honest. 

‘I just knew and loved Chelsea from the moment I walked in and never looked back, I still love the club and look out for every result now and it’s great to see [Frank] Lamps and Jody [Morris] in there now doing their thing, excellent.’

source:metro