Marcel Desailly: 'Chelsea exit would be good for John Terry'

John Terry applauds as he leaves the pitch during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Newcastle United on February 13, 2016
© AFP
Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly believes that John Terry would have benefited from leaving the club this summer.

Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly has urged John Terry to leave the club and experience a different league.

Terry appeared to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer when he announced earlier this year that the club would not be renewing his contract, but he has since signed a one-year extension under incoming manager Antonio Conte.

Desailly, who played alongside Terry at Chelsea, insists that he is happy for the 35-year-old, but believes that he would have benefitted from a fresh challenge.

"He is still the leader and maybe Conte met him and realised that John is still ready to sacrifice everything for the club. John doesn't have to be first choice but keeping him is good for the continuity of the team," he told reporters.

"So I am very happy for him but it would also have been good for him to experience something else. I know from my own experience that it's good on a personal level and for your family. My message to him would be that it's great to experience another country, another life.

"I was talking to [former Real Madrid striker] Raul about it recently and he said [moving to the US] was good for him and his kids. And Frank Lampard never thought he'd leave [Chelsea] but he went to America and he's seen another approach to life."

Terry has been at Chelsea since 1995 and has made more than 700 appearances for the first team.

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