Ronaldinho would have to do his
share here, says Terry
· Brazilian would have 'to learn to track back'
· He would provide 'an option' for the Blues
John Terry last night enthused over the possibility of Ronaldinho
swapping the Camp Nou for Stamford Bridge, though his thrilled
anticipation was delivered with a proviso. The Brazilian, said the
England captain, would have to buy into Chelsea's workaholic
mentality, including recognising the need to track back, if the
prospect of a move to the club was ever to become a
reality.
Barcelona continue to say that they would not countenance
Ronaldinho's sale before Friday's closure of the transfer window
despite reports that the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, met the
27-year-old's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira, at the
Lanesborough Hotel in Mayfair over the weekend. The Catalans'
director of sport, Txiki Beguiristáin, has dismissed suggestions
that the meeting might prove the prelude to a £50m British record
move to the Premiership, yet Terry admitted the prospect - however
remote - of playing alongside Ronaldinho remained enticing.
"It was exciting seeing the link with him and it would be a great
acquisition to get a player of that ability in," said Terry. "I've
played against him, seen what he's all about, and he's such a
difficult player to mark. He'd give us an option if he does come
and it would be great for the Premiership to have a player like
Ronaldinho here.
Yet Terry's glowing assessment was offered with a warning. "I'd
like to think he could fit into the team, though he'd have to learn
about the defensive duties expected of everyone," added Terry.
"We've got wide men going forward but they've got defensive
responsibilities as well. We've seen at times that Jose Mourinho
has taken Shaun Wright- Phillips or Joe Cole off because they've
not been doing their bit at the back.
"It takes players a month or so to learn that you have to track
back and, if you don't, then you come off. Once you've realised
that it's about a team and defending as well, you can attack as
well and he can give us something that not many in the world can
give us. I suppose if he's doing what he's so good at going
forward, then perhaps the manager will let him off a little bit at
the back, but we'd have to see."
