Jose Mourinho says John Terry will stay as Chelsea club
captain but has refused to be drawn on whether he wants to sign Manchester
United striker Wayne Rooney.
Terry, 32, was captain as Chelsea won two Premier League titles in
Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge. But he was not always selected by interim boss Rafael Benitez during an
injury-troubled 2012-13 season.
Mourinho said: "John is the club captain. I'm more than happy with that
and so are the fans."
“If the best for all of us is for Fernando to
stay, let's help him and try to get the best out of him”
But he insisted there would be "no privilege" for his former
players and would not give centre-back Terry reassurances about a regular place,
saying: "With the armband? Only when he plays. If he isn't in the starting
XI he won't have the armband."
Mourinho, back
at Stamford Bridge for a second spell in charge, will also hold talks
with Fernando Torres aimed at clarifying the £50m striker's future.
The former Real Madrid manager is in the market for a new forward but
sidestepped speculation linking him with 27-year-old Rooney, who asked to leave
Old Trafford shortly before Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and the appointment
of David Moyes as Manchester United boss.
He said: "I've learned a few things. One of them is I don't comment on
players from other teams. No chance. No chance. "I think he's at a fantastic age. Maturity, big experience, still
young. It is up to him and what he wants, what makes him happy. A little bit
like me, he doesn't need one more pound in his contract. One more cup won't
make a difference. "Where is he happy? Where will he find more happiness to have ambition
and drive him? I like him as a boy. I wish him well and hope he is happy."
Mourinho has been linked with Napoli's £50m-rated striker Edinson Cavani and
Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk - but also plans talks with Torres.
He said: "Fernando is one of the guys I've not spoken to. I've had
contact with some but not Fernando, who's with the Spain national team with
Juan Mata and Cesar Azpilicueta at the Confederations Cup. "I won't contact them while they're away. I don't want to be
misinterpreted. I will wait until the end of the Confederations Cup and then I
will speak with him. "He's a Chelsea player with a contract. He's more than happy to stay
and work hard and I think he deserves that respect from me, especially, and
also the club. That respect starts with me speaking to him face-to-face and
deciding what is best for all of us.
"If the best for all of us is for Fernando to stay, let's help him and
try to get the best out of him."
Chapisha Maoni