Dubai: Al Nasr coach Dan Petrescu has revealed he will do everything he can to bring former Chelsea teammate John Terry to the Dubai club next season.

The 36-year-old former England centre-back has only played five games for the Blues this season but has been offered a second one-year contract extension to continue at Stamford Bridge, where, despite limited playing opportunities, he can also work to complete his coaching badges.

Terry, who has spent his entire career at Chelsea bar a brief loan spell at Nottingham Forest when he was younger, has always said he would never play for another Premier League club.

That limits his options should he wish to pursue more playing time in England next season but doesn’t rule out big-money moves to places such as China, America or Qatar, where he has also been linked.

Now the UAE could enter the frame, however.

When asked where Petrescu thought Terry would end up next season, he replied: “Al Nasr. Of course, why not? I will call him and ask.

“I wish he was here, he’s a very good friend and a good player,” said the Romanian ex-defender who was a senior member of Chelsea’s squad when Terry burst onto the scene in 1998.

“I don’t know what he will do but I wish him well. It depends on Chelsea, if they really want him he will stay, I’m sure.”

Either way, Petrescu said Terry shouldn’t retire yet.

“I think he should play on, as a centre defender it shouldn’t be a problem and he’s fit, so I’m sure he’ll play more.”

Petrescu’s interest in Terry is perhaps surprising as the two defenders famously didn’t get on. It all started when a young Terry went in hard on Petrescu in the Englishman’s first training session with the seniors.

There are conflicting reports on whether Petrescu retaliated by kicking Terry, or by grabbing him by the throat, but then-captain Dennis Wise stepped in, supposedly grabbing Petrescu by the throat, warning him to leave the youngster alone.

Secretly, Wise told Terry to continue going in hard on full-back Petrescu and their relationship simmered as a consequence.

Terry made his debut coming off the bench as a late substitute for Petrescu in a 1998 League Cup tie against Aston Villa, and the Romanian stormed off the pitch in anger, refusing to shake Terry’s hand.

Both maintain they are good friends and can laugh about the situation now but Petrescu admits that at the time he didn’t rate Terry.

“He was no good for me, but maybe I was not yet a coach, normally I have a good eye and can say this player can be big. I was thinking he could be a good player but not to this level, maybe that’s because we fought in the first training session. We had a very bad fight,” he admitted.

Terry is now on the verge of his fifth Premier League title, has won five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League. He also has 78 caps for England, whom he captained, featuring in two World Cups (2006, 2010) and two Euros (2004, 2012).

He was twice dropped as England captain, once in 2010 following allegations of an affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of his former Chelsea and England teammate Wayne Bridge.

And again in 2011 after an allegation that he directed racial abuse towards former QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, the brother of Terry’s then England teammate Rio, during a game.

Petrescu was also successful in his five-year spell at Chelsea from 1995 to 2000, winning an FA Cup, League Cup, the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup and a Super Cup. He won 95 caps for Romania and is renowned for running past Chelsea teammate Graeme Le Saux and nutmegging Arsenal rival David Seaman to score a last-minute winner over England that saw Romania qualify top of their group at the 1998 World Cup. All the Romania players dyed their hair blonde in celebration.

Asked if Petrescu could take any credit in shaping Terry’s career, he said: “No. He himself made this career, not me; I was part of a great team with him, all the team was good, not only me.”

Chelsea were unavailable for comment when contacted by Gulf News.