New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti today insisted that John Terry is to remain at Stamford Bridge amid continued speculation over a move to Manchester City. The Italian, holding his first press conference, also confirmed that Chelsea had signed Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow.

Ancelotti said: “John Terry is a symbol of this team. He will be captain next season. He said he wants to stay forever and we want to keep him for ever.

“Now there is a question of Manchester City, but for Terry (there is) no price. Terry will be at Chelsea forever.

“He said he wants to stay, there is no problem for him for us, the story continues — Chelsea and Terry.

“I like to have a captain like Terry, he is very close to (Paulo) Maldini for professionalism, for quality and he will be the best captain for Chelsea. I spoke with Terry a month ago when I came to the club and he said welcome. And after he went on holiday.

“I will speak with him because he is the captain and I want a good relationship with the captain.”

When asked if the club would offer Terry a new, improved contract, he added: “It’s not my problem.”

Ancelotti also confirmed the arrivals of Daniel Sturridge, from Manchester City, and Zhirkov.

He said: “Zhirkov, Sturridge — these are Chelsea players.” As for Zhirkov’s role, Ancelotti added: “Zhirkov is naturally on the left.

“I think he can do all the work and can play in defence and in between.”

However, the former AC Milan boss refused to confirm Deco and Ricardo Carvalho would be leaving west London despite the pair being heavily linked with Inter Milan.

He said: “Carvalho and Deco are Chelsea players.

“If in the future a player wants to go they have to speak with the club and we take the right decision for the player and for us.”

It was also reported in Italy this morning that Inter had cooled their interest in the duo with club president Massimo Moratti quoted as saying the the current squad is strong enough.

“Deco and Carvalho? They are two champions but at this time I don’t feel there’s a need to buy them,” Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport.