John Terry joined Aston Villa on a one-year deal recently.
Paul Clement has told talkSPORT that Swansea City’s status as a Premier League club hindered them in their pursuit of new Aston Villa signing John Terry.
The 36-year-old defender joined Aston Villa in a one-year deal on Monday, with Steve Bruce edging out Swansea boss Clement and Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp for him.
Terry’s release from Chelsea this summer spelt the end of a 22-year affiliation with the reigning Premier League champions, and the 45-year-old, who worked alongside the legendary centre-back in West London, says that he chose a Championship club to avoid facing his old side.
“My understanding of the situation is that, with John and his relationship with Chelsea, he was going to find it difficult to be a direct competitor of them in the Premier League,” he told talkSPORT on Monday morning.
“John is someone I know very well and have a lot respect for and have a good relationship with. Having known him since he was 16 years old and worked with him as well in the later years when I was an assistant at Chelsea, I understand very well his situation.
“He has made a sensible choice. Aston Villa are a very good club, they have got a good manager, they have got a nice infrastructure there.
“I think he is getting that balance between wanting to continue to play at a good level but at the same time not wanting to pull at his heartstrings really because it was difficult for him leaving Chelsea.”
Aston Villa finished 13th in the Championship last season but Bruce, who has four Premier League promotions under his belt, will be confident on improving that next time around.
And the arrival of Terry is certainly an excellent start to their summer transfer business, but more players are needed if the Villans are to improve on their finish of last term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
