John Terry's New Contract Offer Will Outline His True Chelsea Affections

COBHAM, SURREY — Chelsea fans got their wish on Friday, May 13, when it was announced that the club has offered John Terry a one-year contract extension to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

"Marina Granovskaia and Bruce Buck met with John and his agent this week and offered him a one-year contract extension," a Chelsea spokesman said ahead of manager Guus Hiddink's Friday press conference.

"Obviously coming so late in the season, this is a big decision for John and his family. It is something that they are now considering."

In short, the ball is in Terry's court, and the question he must now ask himself is the same one the Bee Gees did in 1977: How deep is your love?

Chelsea have manipulated the PR machine to good effect. Terry had attempted to force their hand in January with his announcement on his contract extension after the 5-1 victory over MK Dons in the FA Cup. It may have taken four months, but they've finally reacted.

"It's not going to be a fairy tale ending, I'm not going to retire at Chelsea," he had said back then.

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Well, now he can. If he really wants to, of course.

The terms of this contract offer are still unknown. They shouldn't matter, though. Terry's been pushing for this opportunity since January, and the club gave it to him.

If he really believes in the notion of fairy tales and what it all represents, he can accept whatever it is Chelsea have offered to make it real.

A red card away to Sunderland doesn't have to be his farewell. It can be the cheers of Stamford Bridge that become the last memory of his time in a Chelsea shirt and not the heckles of hostile Sunderland fans. Terry has been given the opportunity that so many legends before him haven't gotten: He can go out on his terms now. He can write the next chapter. He can dictate the narrative.

Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole weren't afforded that chance. One of the finest left-backs in the history of English football, it was a goalless draw against Norwich City on the final day of 2013-14 that saw Cole leave Chelsea.

He was in tears in the centre circle, unsure of what fate he would be handed. Rather than a victory lap around the pitch to be cheered by fans, it ended all a bit sour.

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The same for Lampard, Chelsea's all-time goalscorer. He was in the same boat as Cole and had to announce in a press conference for England ahead of the 2014 World Cup that he was no longer a Chelsea player.

Friday's announcement has changed the complexion of Sunday's game against Leicester City completely. There had been talks of protests by Chelsea fans in order to persuade the board to keep their captain at the club; one fan group was even calling for a walk-out after 26 minutes.

Chelsea have combated that; they've killed those protests with kindness. The fans have what they wanted and so does Terry.

What's most pertinent here is the position it leaves him in the grander view of his place in Chelsea folklore. As is the case across football in general, too many big names long before Terry's time couldn't end their careers at Chelsea and remain as those cherished one-club figures.

Even Ron Harris, Chelsea's record appearance maker—and as equally a fine captain as Terry has been—was forced to leave before his career was up. Terry's career has mirrored Harris' in that he came through the youth system and captained the Blues to unprecedented levels of success. It doesn't have to end the same way.

It was well into the twilight of his career—incidentally, Harris was also 35 years old when he left Chelsea—but it was at Brentford's Griffin Park where he played out his days as a footballer.

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In west London it may have been; it wasn't at Stamford Bridge. Harris couldn't retire a Chelsea player.

If Terry so wishes, then he can. Regardless of the financial terms on offer, he has been given a chance to not chase contracts elsewhere. The end of his career can be about something so much different—something so much more dignified.

Terry has spoken enough in the past of how he cherishes his time at Stamford Bridge. He's traded on his image as the captain, leader, legend. He needs to deliver on it again by signing that contract.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.