Showdown talks with Roman Abramovich convinced John Terry to stay at Chelsea

John Terry pledged his future to Chelsea after showdown talks with Roman Abramovich on the club's pre-season tour of the US.

The defender flew to America in turmoil about whether to join Manchester City's multimillion-pound revolution.

But England captain Terry returns to London today convinced about Abramovich's vision and ambition for his beloved Chelsea.

Russian billionaire Abramovich has left Terry believing he is prepared to spend big again this summer to put the Blues back on top of the Premier League.

The first target will be Bayern Munich's French winger Franck Ribery, who is valued at £50million by the German giants.

Abramovich (below) made it clear to Terry that Chelsea are prepared to dig deep to ensure they challenge reigning champions Manchester United for the title.

It was that plus a little bit of love which finally persuaded Terry to turn his back on a £35m move to City and the lure of a doubleyour-money £240,000-a-week five-year contract at Eastlands.

Terry has been hugely impressed with new boss Carlo Ancelotti since his arrival and during their pre-season trip in the States.

Ancelotti laid it on the line to Terry that he wanted him to stay, be his captain, and the cornerstone of his vision for the club over the next three years.

City boss Mark Hughes had made Terry feel wanted by making him his top transfer target even in a summer when they have signed Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez.

It was touch-and-go for a while after Hughes made it clear he wanted him to be the figurehead for his revolution at City. In fact, Terry only made his definitive decision on Saturday, despite apparently telling his team-mates he was staying last week. City have become the new Chelsea under Sheikh Mansour's wealthy regime from back in the days when Abramovich used to break transfer records and attract Europe's top stars to Stamford Bridge.

This summer Chelsea have been quiet so far, only paying big-money for CSKA Moscow's £18m Russian midfielder Yuri Zhirkov. They have missed out on big targets like Alexandre Pato, Glen Johnson and David Villa in a summer of frustration in the transfer market.

That left Terry concerned about Chelsea's ability to catch United and win back the title they have not looked like regaining since Jose Mourinho left in 2007.

But the player was left in no doubt about Abramovich's desire, commitment and spending power, after talks when the owner flew in to Los Angeles last week.

Frank Arnesen's emergence under Ancelotti to negotiate transfers has also been significant, especially as chief executive Peter Kenyon appears to be being sidelined after a string of bad managerial appointments.

Terry is likely to be given an improved contract - making him the best-paid player at the club above Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack - even if it is unlikely to be extended from the three years left to run.

But there was also an arm round Terry's shoulder, telling him he is still Chelsea's main man and is as wanted at Stamford Bridge as much as ever.

Furthermore, the Blues are in the Champions League and play at the top level week-in and week-out while City are not even in the Europa League this season.

In the end it was not money which eventually ended the transfer saga of the summer.