Cesar Azpilicueta in action for Chelsea. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
According to popular Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is set to sign a new two-year deal with the Blues and stay at the club despite interest from Barcelona.
It has been no secret that the Spanish club wanted to sign the Chelsea veteran this season and talks were going on for quite some time now. However, intervention from Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel meant that the Chelsea captain has decided to stay.
A legend of the club, Azpilicueta has been with Chelsea for ten seasons now. He joined the Blues from Marseille in 2012 and has since then gone on to become a mainstay in defence all these years playing in different positions under different managers.
Always the team man that he is, Azpilicueta has deputized wherever required for Chelsea playing at centre-back, left-back and right-back over the years. He has even been deployed further up the field as the right-midfielder on occasions in the past.
The 32-year-old played 47 times for the Blues last season for Thomas Tuchel scoring three goals and providing three assists across all competitions. Even last season, he was often forced to play out of position due to injuries to other players.
Reece James suffered a long-term injury midway through the season and due to the absence of another right wing-back, the Spanish veteran was forced to play in the position and he did a very admirable job at filling in for the English international.
It must be a huge relief to Chelsea that Azpilicueta chose to stay at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been very short of options at centre-back with both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leaving the club this summer on free transfers.
The Blues did sign Kalidou Koulibaly but it might not be sufficient to replace two players who have been great for Thomas Tuchel ever since he came in. Hence, it must be a welcome relief that the captain chose to stay with us for the next season.
At 32, Azpilicueta shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. He still has it to play in the top flight for a few more seasons and will continue being an important player for us. It is great news that Azpilicueta’s legacy is set to continue.
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