Cesar Azpilicueta appears set to leave Chelsea for free next summer
According to James Olley (h/t ESPN), Chelsea players and staff are anticipating that Cesar Azpilicueta will leave the club for free at the end of the current campaign.
The Spaniard has been a long time servant of Chelsea and has served the club with distinction. In his illustrious career spanning over nine years, he made 445 appearances for the Blues bagging 14 goals and 56 assists.
Furthermore, the Spaniard also captained Thomas Tuchel’s team in last season’s Champions League triumph. However, it seems he is eyeing a return to his home country.
Azpilicueta is serving the final year of his contract and hasn’t penned down a new deal yet. Amid such a scenario, the former Marseille man has attracted interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both the teams would be eligible to negotiate a pre-contractual agreement with him starting next month.
While his contract conundrum appears simpler than some of his teammates, recent developments have put the Blues in hot water. It is believed that Chelsea players and staff have already accepted the notion that their captain will leave for free in the following summer.
Azpilicueta has seen it all with Chelsea. The 32-year old veteran defender has seen bad days while also experiencing some emphatic moments of his career at Stamford Bridge. He has also donned different roles for the betterment of the team on numerous occasions as well.
His age seems a minor burden for Chelse’s long term plans. However, his recent performances suggested that he has the ability to continue playing top-flight games. The Blues would face difficulty finding a player as experienced as the Spaniard. His English top-flight expertise still makes him a valuable asset.
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This season will be crucial for both parties. The Blues are well placed in major tournaments, and Thomas Tuchel would hope to continue their consistent run to achieve more silverware. Azpilicueta would be keen to go out with one last hurrah.