John Terry’s future remains unclear after he rejected a contract offer from Spartak Moscow.
The 37-year-old centre-back took to Instagram on Wednesday to explain his decision not to sign for the Russian club.
“After assessing this move with my family, we’ve decided this is not the right move for ourselves at this time,” Terry wrote on Instagram.
Reports claim that Terry, who has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa in July, was offered a tax-free deal for one year worth around £3 million.
He had travelled to Rome to undergo a medical and finalise the move but later changed his mind.
So Terry remains a free agent.
The Chelsea legend has been linked with a return to Aston Villa, while a job as a pundit has also been mooted.
Spartak fans react
It would have been very interesting to see Terry in Russia, though.
English players rarely venture abroad, and if they do it’s not usually to countries as far-flung as Russia.
Yet he doesn’t feel that Spartak Moscow is the right place for him - and the news hasn’t gone down well with the club’s supporters.
Russian newspaper Sport Express have gathered some comments that have been made from Spartak fans towards Terry.
The comments, left on Terry’s Instagram post, have been translated by Sport Witness.
Here’s hoping that the former England international never reads them.
“You’re a coward. And not a man. I’m ready to tell you this in person,” user andrei.su said.
“You’re the latest henpecked man. The club counted on you. I liked you at Chelsea.
“But after the deed that you did, you died for me. Damn you.”
Another supporter wrote: “A football player who sails on a political course, who does not know the country in which he was invited, is simply weak at the core. I always thought that most British players are strong in spirit.”
Meanwhile, user gennadymakaroff called for Terry to retire.
“Go retire, stop playing Johnny, you will not earn all the money,” the Spartak fan said.
Another fan echoed andrei.su’s claim that Terry is a coward.
It seems they’re just a little bit upset.