Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has been a club legend. . (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
According to Spanish news outlet Marca (h/t The Sun), Chelsea will let Cesar Azpilicueta join Barcelona on a free transfer despite a contract extension having been activated recently. This news would be surprising to the supporters, considering how the English club are at risk of being subjected to a defensive crisis this summer.
Azpilicueta was nearing the end of his contract before an automatic clause triggered a one-year extension recently. The renewal option was activated when the centre-back made 30 appearances in total this season, which was reached several weeks ago. As such, there were doubts that his proposed move to Camp Nou could be coming to an end.
However, the Blues are now willing to let the Spaniard leave for free due to their “excellent relationship” with each other. It appears that they have taken this stance considering how the skipper has been a long-standing servant of the club. They may be looking to repay the favour through this intriguing decision.
This stance from the West London side would have been understandable under normal conditions. That is not the case right now, as the club has been forced into disarray following the UK Government’s sanctions that have been imposed on Roman Abramovich.
As such, we are unable to renew the players’ contracts or even sign reinforcements at this moment. With Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger being in line to become free agents this summer, we are in a dire situation right now. Hence, it is normal if fans are questioning the club’s stance on Azpilicueta.
After all, the Blues skipper’s extension offers us a slight sigh of relief even if Rudiger and Christensen end up leaving this summer. Losing the captain alongside them could prove to be costly, especially when the defence has been one of our strong suits under Thomas Tuchel- with the former Marseille man forming a big part of it.
If the club is sure of seeing a new owner come in before the start of next season and our day-to-day activities in the backroom resuming to normal, it would cushion any blow that Azpi’s potential blow would deliver. But regardless of that, the club’s apparent decision regarding Azpilicueta’s future can be considered a puzzling one, to say the least.
He was a sturdy option down the right flank in the absence of star right wing-back Reece James earlier this season, and his role in the FIFA Club World Cup win underlines how useful he is to us. Seeing him leave would then effectively leave two places to be filled- one for a backup right back that can step in for James in emergencies, and one central defender.
But perhaps, it is the Spaniard’s will to pursue a new challenge at 32. He has, after all, won everything there was to win with Chelsea during his time at the Bridge. The defender has prior experience playing in his native country, making 106 appearances for the senior Osasuna side.
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