John Terry Rejects Spartak Moscow Deal

By Joshua Walters

John Terry has called off his move to Russia with the announcement, he ‘has declined a contract offer from Spartak Moscow’.

John Terry is a free agent, having left Aston Villa after the Villans failed to qualify back into the Premier League with a last-ditch defeat to Fulham.

Terry had a medical at the Villa Stuart clinic in Rome on Saturday at the behest of the Russia giants as the club wanted to speed up the move.

Spartak needed the former England and Chelsea captain to replace center-back, Samuel Gigot, who has been ruled out of the season with an injury.

Reports suggest the deal tabled by Spartak was tax-free, but Terry, who reportedly would have pocketed about £3 million a year, has called it off citing family reasons.

“After considerable thought, I have decided to decline a contract offer from Spartak Moscow. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Spartak and wish them and their supporters well for the rest of the season.”

“They are an ambitious club and I have been very impressed with their professionalism.”

“But, after assessing this move with my family, we’ve decided this is not the right move for ourselves at this time. Good luck Spartak.”

The 37-year-old had offers from several clubs this summer, and he told Sportsmail he was ‘still hungry to play if everything around it is right’

“I am in the best condition I was in for the last eight to 10 years of my career,” said Terry.

“I have had a brilliant summer, the first time in 20 years I have been able to get away like that with my family during the school holidays.”

'I was away so much last year because I was fully committed to giving everything to Aston Villa, but now I am fully recharged,” Terry concluded.