Chelsea legend John Terry pulls out of ‘Match for Cancer’ as he prepares to complete move to Spartak Moscow
The 37-year-old hinted at returning to former club Aston Villa earlier this week
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea legend John Terry has pulled out of a charity match he was scheduled to participate in on Saturday as he nears a surprise move to Spartak Moscow.
Terry was billed to play in a 'Match for Cancer' on Team Milner, managed by Jurgen Klopp and captained by Liverpool midfielder James Milner, at Parkhead against a side coached by Brendan Rodgers and captained by Stiliyan Petrov to raise money for cancer research and treatment.
But the Chelsea captain instead posted an Instagram story of himself on a plane to an undisclosed location, and subsequent photographs and video footage circulated on social media confirmed that he had landed in Rome to finalise the deal.
"I'm sorry I can't be there today to support James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov today at Celtic Park,” Terry wrote in a separate message on Instagram, before posting another picture that appeared to show him undergoing a medical.
Terry, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa last summer and briefly contemplated retirement, is expected to sign a one-year contract with Spartak.
In an interview with The Daily Mail earlier this week, Terry confirmed that he intended to continue his professional career at the age of 37 and hinted that returning to Villa was an option.
“I loved my time at Aston Villa,” he said. “I am still devastated that we didn’t go up. The manager, players and supporters were incredible with me but I hate losing and I feel there is unfinished business there.
“Steve Bruce is a great man and with the backing of the new owners, Steve will hopefully get the club back into the Premier League.
“Don’t get me wrong, if I don’t play again I am content with what has been an unbelievable career, but I’m still hungry to go and play if everything around it is right. If it’s right for me and my family.
“I am in the best condition I have been in for the last eight to 10 years of my career. I’ve 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.”
Terry is poised to face former Liverpool rival Steven Gerrard during his time at Spartak, after the Russian club were drawn in the same Europa League group as Rangers.
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