Time is running out for cult-hero Juliano Belletti

Simon Johnson
29 May 2009

Juliano Belletti has admitted he doesn't know if he will still be at Chelsea next season and is desperate not to miss out on the FA Cup Final.

Belletti has become a cult hero among Chelsea fans since he joined from Barcelona for £3.5million in 2007, but could be one of the first players to be sold this summer as the club look to lower the average age of the squad.

The Brazil international, who has just one year left on his current contract, turns 33 in June and Chelsea are keen to sign younger players.

That means Wembley could be his last chance to play in a blue shirt and he is currently in a race against time to recover from a calf injury.

He said: "I don't know whether I will still be playing in England next season. The aim is simply to work hard preparing for the next game and to try and to do things well now."

Fellow Brazilian Alex is set to start alongside captain John Terry in central defence, but will have to have an operation on a hernia problem the next day.

It is a major blow to the 26-year-old as he has had to pull out of Brazil's squad for their two World Cup qualifiers next month, as well as the Confederations Cup.

Alex is desperate to force his way into the first team so that he can start in the World Cup next year if, as expected, they qualify.