In our look at the latest Chelsea-related news stories from the media, John Terry reveals the three players he thinks took the club to a new level and Gonzalo Higuain turns down interest from three Premier League clubs.
These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.
Terry’s big three
Chelsea legend John Terry has named the three players who signed for Chelsea and took the Blues to a new level of professionalism behind the scenes, setting us on our way to becoming the top club we are today.
‘We would finish training and go upstairs and have burger and chips or sausage and mash. It was just a couple of ladies who lived the training ground who would cook the food,’ he told former England cricketer and Chelsea fan Kevin Pietersen during an interview on Unacademy.
‘There was no nutritional aspect. You would finish training, leave straightaway and be home by 1pm.
‘We were lucky at Chelsea because we signed [Gianfranco] Zola, [Ruud] Gullit and [Gianluca] Vialli and they turned up at the training ground and said, “where’s the food, where’s the protein? We need a bigger gym, we need to stretch more”.
‘They took it to another level and I was really lucky to be around those players at that stage of my career. Gianfranco would get in two hours before anyone else. He would go to the gym for a weight session, he would stretch for two hours after training.’
Higuain rejects English move
Former Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has turned down the chance to return to the Premier League after being told Juventus would release him from his contract in Italy.
The Sun claims that Newcastle United, West Ham United and Fulham have all made unsuccessful offers to bring Higuain back to England.
However, it now appears that the US is the Argentine’s preferred destination. ‘According to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Higuain will sign for MLS side Inter Miami until 2022,’ reports The Sun.
‘The deal is expected to be announced once the striker has reached a financial agreement with Juventus.’
Napoli admit Koulibaly mistake
Aurelio De Laurentiis, owner of Serie A club Napoli, has said he was wrong to turn down earlier bids for Kalidou Koulibaly when Chelsea were among the clubs reportedly interested, having now made the centre-back available for transfer.
Napoli have said the Senegal international can leave Italy if their asking price is met, but their owner thinks he got his timing wrong after links with several clubs including Chelsea in previous transfer windows, and has learned not to make the same mistake again as he announced they would now be ready to sell their best players at their peak.
He told Italian journalist Claudio Russo: ‘From now on when there are important offers we will all sell.
‘The fans and I have to live for the day, that’s what they ask of us. I was incorrect not to sell Koulibaly. Koulibaly and Milik are both on their way out, transfer market permitting.’