Javier Zanetti linked with Chelsea

Zanetti on his way to Chelsea?

Like many Chelsea supporters around the world this morning, I have woken up to see reports that we are linked with a move to bring Javier Zanetti to Chelsea on a one year contract next season!

If reports are to be believed (from various sources by the way), Jose Mourinho wants to bring Zanetti to the football club as part of his long term vision as a coach but with a player role first for next season. If this is true, Zanetti will be 41 next August. I am baffled to say the least!

Now it’s all well a good people thinking that Ryan Giggs is around the same age and he still plays now and again but that’s different. He has spent his whole career in England and has been playing in the Premier League pretty much since the day it started.

Giggs is used to the pace of our game, the physicality of our football and for someone of that age to come to England and to be expected to do a job for us next season is a big, big ask!

I do have to state that the articles do state that it’s believed that the player wants to stay in Italy and is keen to sort out his future with Inter. He has been there since 1995 and you would have to imagine that for his loyalty alone, a rarity in football these days, he would be offered a position in coaching there?

So what of Chelsea? I couldn’t possibly see him making the grade here as a player as the demands of the game have changed so much now. These days, it’s as much about pace as it is anything else and you would question him up against someone like Theo Walcott for example.

If there is substance in these reports, I would be happier for Mourinho to just bring him in as a coach and forget anything to do with playing.

However, I believe he will decide to stay in Italy if given the chance.

What do you think of Zanetti being linked with a contract as a player next season?