Transfer News: Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta did not end up joining Barcelona.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Barcelona have offered experienced Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta a two-year deal with an option to extend for another season. It is believed that talks between the player and the Spanish club started in January but a final decision hasn’t been made.
The Spanish defender has been a great servant for the club having played 459 matches across all competitions for the Blues until now. Azpilicueta can play at centre-back as well as right-back, which showcases the kind of versatility that he brings to the pitch.
He has recently filled in for the injured Reece James on the right side of defence this season and while he has been an apt replacement on occasions but at 32, isn’t able to bring the same kind of pace and attacking instinct that the young English defender possesses.
The Spanish international’s current contract with Chelsea will expire at the end of the season and the player is yet to pen a new deal with the Stamford Bridge outfit. The West Londoners are thought to be hopeful about keeping Azpilicueta beyond his current deal but it is believed that there is a lack of communication from the side of the player.
Whilst the 32-year-old has been of great service to the club, it seems as though his peak footballing years may just be behind him. He has managed to make 30 appearances in a Blue jersey across all competition this campaign but it seems highly unlikely that he would have played so many matches if it weren’t for the absence of Reece James.
The Spanish international is not the only Chelsea defender with a contract that expires soon. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are also set to become free agents at the end of this season, granted they don’t sign a renewal. It would be a big loss for the Blues should any of these players leave the club, that too on a free transfer.
The former Marseille star has been a rock at the back winning every title with the Stamford Bridge outfit in his illustrious career. With a potential mini-rebuild seeming imminent this summer, the Blues could use someone with Azpilicueta’s experience to help anchor things at the back, even if it is for a short while.
Azpi showed his fitness, versatility and quality in our recent FIFA Club World Cup win, where he played the full 120 minutes down the right-hand side of our defence in a 2-1 win over Palmeiras.
But once James returns from his injury, and given the veteran defender’s age, it would be hard to see him become a pinned starter in this team. That being said, his prospects of playing more minutes could open up if Rudiger and Christensen don’t renew their contracts.
However, Romano’s claims that there is no communication from the Chelsea captain’s side is worrying, to say the least, indicating that he may have already made up his mind about his future at Stamford Bridge.
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