Chelsea to do their best to retain veteran ace this summer

Transfer News: Chelsea will try to convince Cesar Azpilicueta to stay put

According to Simon Phillips (via TeleFootball) (h/t Football.London), Chelsea are set to once again try and convince club captain Cesar Azpilicueta to stay on at Stamford Bridge next season amidst interest from Barcelona.

Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Marseille back in 2012 and to say that he has had an outstanding ten seasons with the Blues will be an understatement. The ever-dependable player, the Spaniard has been an epitome of consistency during his time at Stamford Bridge.

This season has been no different for the defender, often having to fill in at right wing-back in the absence of Reece James and doing a great job at it too. The 32-year-old has played 47 times for Thomas Tuchel’s team this season scoring three goals and providing three assists across all competitions.

Chelsea will hold more talks with Cesar Azpilicueta after his international duty.

Barcelona want him, but do not want to pay a fee. Tuchel has made it clear that he wants Azpilicueta to stay. He had been preparing to say farewell to Chelsea.

– @TeleFootball

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) June 10, 2022

At 32, the Chelsea captain apparently wants to return to his home country with Barcelona willing to sign the Spaniard but the Blues want to try and convince their talismanic leader to stay on with them.

Time to move on?

Having given his everything to the club in the past ten years and winning everything that there is to be won, it seems like Azpilicueta has set his heart on leaving Chelsea and trying a new challenge.

Although the Spaniard is still performing on the highest level and almost never gets injured, he is 32 and is approaching what can be considered the twilight years of his career. A return to his home country seems like the perfect reward for Azpilicueta.

The Blues are already in a defensive crisis this season, finding themselves extremely short of options at centre-back due to the departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. Losing Azpilicueta as well would mean a huge blow for Chelsea and that could be the reason they want him to stay on.

Regardless, if our captain still wants to leave, it is only right we grant him that wish for all that he has done for us and not stand in the way of his desire. Azpilicueta will always be a Chelsea legend and that status will not change irrespective of what happens this summer.

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It is understandable that we are trying to convince Cesar Azpilicueta to stay. If he wants to leave though, then maybe it is time to move on.