adminLONDON — Ashley Cole fears he has played his last game for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with the England full-back still to receive a formal offer of a new contract from the club he has served for the last eight years.The 33-year-old was in tears during the squad’s lap of appreciation after the goalless draw with Norwich on Sunday, his emotion betraying the reality that he may move on in the summer. Chelsea have indicated they will take their time before formalising any offer but the lack of a preliminary proposal has left the left-back fearing the worst.
There will be interest from clubs home and abroad in securing his services, with Real Madrid – managed by Carlo Ancelotti and assisted by Paul Clement, who coached Cole at Chelsea – as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco monitoring the situation, along with teams in Major League Soccer. Those clubs have had the opportunity to sign the defender on a pre-contract agreement since January, though the former Arsenal man’s priority had been to stay. He might yet consider retirement should no offer materialise, especially if he goes on to feature for England in a record fourth World Cup finals this summer.
The Chelsea manager, José Mourinho, suggested on Sunday that the club intend to take stock over the next few weeks before determining the futures of Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry, who are also out of contract on June 30. Lampard is expected to sign a one-year deal on reduced terms and may work towards taking a role among the coaching staff at Cobham. Terry is also expected to stay but after initial negotiations over a new deal his representatives have heard nothing back from Chelsea for a month.
That has prompted some anxiety with the 33-year-old captain, who has been at the club since his early teens and has just enjoyed one of the most consistent seasons of his career, on tenterhooks. Terry used his programme notes for the Norwich game to demonstrate his appreciation for the support he has received from the fans over the years and, while falling short of a clear farewell, his words could have been construed as the precursor to a parting of ways.
“I want to say a big thank you for always showing me massive support on and off the field,” he wrote. “It was my dream when I arrived at 14 to go on and do what I’ve done.” — The Guardian
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