Chelsea captain John Terry has touted Italy, USA, China and Qatar as countries where he might be playing his football next season.
The 35-year-old is out of contract this summer and has not been offered a new deal by the Blues. While he reiterated that his first preference is to be offered a deal that would allow him to continue his 21-year association with the club, he has clearly started to mull over the other options.
Terry has again ruled out the possibility of joining a rival Premier League team, but a switch to Serie A, Major League Soccer, the Chinese Super League or the Qatar Stars League could be on the agenda.
His former Chelsea colleagues Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba will all be plying their trade in MLS this season, though Cole arrived via Italy and Drogba had a stint in China.
Terry told the Evening Standard: “I want to play at the highest level.
“Being Chelsea through and through and a one-club man I couldn’t play for another Premier League club. I couldn’t pull on the shirt for another team and not give 100% – that’s not me.
“For sure, I will continue playing. I’m hopeful of where that is but we are not sure yet. Playing in Europe is an option. It is in Chelsea’s hands. I have made it clear to the club I want to stay. If not, I will be playing [elsewhere]. I don’t know whether that will be Italy, MLS, China or Qatar.”
He said he believes he still has at least two more seasons left at the top level.
He added: “In the last three or four years, I feel in the best physical condition that I have ever been in. As a youngster you take it for granted, you can eat what you want, train, have a rest but when you get older you can’t. You can’t eat pasta or bread, it all goes out the window.
“That aspect of it has a big impact. I’ve definitely got two or three years in me. I’d be gutted if it isn’t at Chelsea but if not, it will be at somewhere else for sure.”
