John Terry has made his feelings clear on seeing Conor Gallagher leave Chelsea for Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher’s future at Chelsea became the biggest transfer saga of the summer with the midfielder left in limbo at times.
He is said to have rejected a new contract offer from Chelsea in June as he held out for a longer deal comparable to the ones dished out to the likes of Cole Palmer and co.
Chelsea weren’t willing to meet Gallagher’s demands with Atletico Madrid emerging as the frontrunners for his signature in June.
Conor Gallagher has left Chelsea to join Atletico Madrid
PA
The saga took a fresh twist last week when Gallagher boarded a private plan and landed in Madrid only to return to London as the deal threatened to fall through.
But a breakthrough was finally reached between the two clubs on Tuesday with Gallagher heading back out to Madrid to complete his move.
The transfer brings an end to Gallagher’s 18-year stint with the club having first joined the club at the age of six.
And Chelsea icon Terry has made it clear that he didn’t agree with Gallagher leaving the club on social media.
Gallagher posted a poignant goodbye message to Chelsea and the club’s fans on Instagram, calling it a ‘dream come true to captain the team on many occasions’.
He added: “I appreciate all the love and support from the fans.
“Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me.”
The likes of Fabrizio Romano, Carney Chukwuemeka and Danny Drinkwater sent their well wishes to Gallagher over his move.
Terry was also among those to comment, writing: “Gutted to see you go mate. Good luck @conorgallagher92.”
Gallagher becomes the latest academy product to be sold by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly in the last two years.
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John Terry didn’t want to see Conor Gallagher leave
PA
Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all left the club after breaking through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Reece James are now the only academy products left in Chelsea’s first-time squad under Enzo Maresca.
But Chalobah is reportedly among the players up for sale at Chelsea ahead of the transfer deadline.
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Conor Gallagher spent 18 years at Chelsea
PA
Part of Gallagher’s deal to join Atletico will see Joao Felix return to Chelsea on a permanent basis.
The Portugal international spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Chelsea where he struggled to make a huge impact.
But Chelsea bosses have seen enough from the 24-year-old to make him their latest signing of the summer.