Cesar Azpilicueta in action for Chelsea. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has revealed the reason for turning down Barcelona this summer in favour of signing a new contract.
The Spain international was set to leave the Blues for Barcelona this summer but ended up renewing his contract until the summer of 2024. In an interview with AS. (h/t Metro) the 33-year-old explained the reason for his snub and said:
“At Chelsea I played less than 30 games and I was already a free agent. It had never happened to me in my life. But the new owners arrived and they showed me the desire to stay with me.”
Azpilicueta, who moved to west London in the summer of 2012 after leaving Olympique de Marseille, added:
“London is my home and my children speak English better than Spanish. When I made the decision I think Xavi understood it. If things are clear, they are understood.”
After not being a pinned starter for former manager Thomas Tuchel last season, he has had prominence in the Chelsea squad this campaign.
Had he gone to Camp Nou, he could have stepped in to play as centre-back in the absence of Ronald Araujo, who is injured, and Gerard Pique, who has retired from playing football. He would also be a key starter down their right flank, where Jules Kounde has had to fill in for a while.
But he is of similar use to the Blues as he would be to the Merengues. Reece James does not have a backup at right-wing-back in manager Graham Potter’s system. He has started four of our last five Premier League games under the Englishman, captaining us in all those appearances.
Moreover, the injury to Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly’s poor form has highlighted the importance of Azpilicueta. It remains to be seen if Chelsea will allow their captain to leave before the expiration of his contract.
They fought hard to keep him before the start of the season and it would be a surprise if their stance changed so quickly.
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