Dubai: Big names have been in contact at Al Nasr but John Terry is not one of them, admits The Blue Wave’s technical director Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is tasked with rebuilding the Oud Medha club ahead of next season.
The 32-year-old defender’s £150,000-a-week [Dh840,000] contract with English Premier League side Chelsea is due to expire next year and the current European champions have yet to initiate talks on a new deal.
Uncertainty surrounding Terry’s future has led to rumours linking the ex-England captain to a reunion in Dubai with his former Three Lions coach Eriksson. The coach, however, has thrown doubt on the prospect when he told the BBC: “If he [Terry] would like to come, yes I would take him of course, but I don’t think he will come. In fact, I would be very surprised if he leaves Chelsea.
“He can still play at the highest level for more years I’m sure. It’s too early for him,” said Eriksson, 65, who has been working alongside coach and former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga at the Al Maktoum Stadium since January.
Of David Beckham’s linking to Al Nasr before signing a five-month contract with Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in January, Eriksson added: “There were some talks about it, not really negotiations but of course I spoke with his agent.
“It wasn’t impossible but at the same time PSG came in and I understand if you can play half a season at that level, he should take that and he took it.”
Despite now giving up on his former England players Beckham and Terry, Eriksson suggested there was still hope of Al Nasr landing a high profile name. “I’m quite surprised that a lot of players and player’s agents are calling me up – and rather famous players,” said Eriksson.
“Many of them are over 30 and a little bit more, but they are big names, so we’ll see. The money is here, of course it is.”
Eriksson added: “We’re allowed to have four foreigners and that’s what we have now, but contracts have finished with some of them so for sure a couple of foreigners might be interesting for us. I’m going to try at least.”
Al Nasr are currently fifth in the Etisalat Pro League with six games to play, following third and second place finishes over the last two seasons. Eriksson’s arrival is in a bid to end the club’s 27-year-wait for silverware.
