Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is STAYING at Stamford Bridge with the Spaniard set to sign a new two-year deal to ease Thomas Tuchel’s defensive crisis… as Barcelona boss Xavi is a dealt a huge blow to his Nou Camp rebuild plans
- Cesar Azpilicueta will stay at Chelsea as he considers a new two-year contract
- LaLiga giants Barcelona have expressed serious interest in signing the defender
- Azpilicueta has been hugely influential for the Blues since arriving back in 2012
Cesar Azpilicueta’s decision to stay at Chelsea deprives Xavi of the defender he most wanted to build his new look Barcelona around.
The Spanish international who turns 33 at the end of this month was one of the first players the Barca coach called last December when he was trying to organise January arrivals to rescue the club’s season.
The desire to bring him in has remained this summer with Azpilicueta earmarked to play at right-back while also offering Xavi the chance to play with a back three and even give cover to Jordi Alba at left-back.
Cesar Azpilicueta has been hugely influential for Chelsea since arriving in the summer of 2012
It is a huge boost for boss Thomas Tuchel who is already having to re-build his defensive unit
Ronaldo speaks out after Erik ten Hag blasts 'unacceptable' Man Utd star
Xavi has also been keen to bolster the character of his squad. He wants experienced, battle-hardened winners and, as with Robert Lewandowski, he saw those qualities in the Spain international.
Azpilicueta told Xavi last December that as Chelsea club captain there was no way he would leave them mid-season but this summer he was open to a move if something could be sorted out between the two clubs.
Before Roman Abramovich sold the club, Azpilicueta was confident that he would be allowed to move on a free despite playing a sufficient number of games last season to automatically renew his deal.
The defender has been linked with a move to Barca, with Xavi keen to add his experience
That willingness on behalf of Chelsea changed when Todd Boehly came in and Marina Granovskaia left.
Boehly felt that he could not let his captain leave no sooner than take charge at least not without a big-name new arrival.
Chelsea knew they were setting Azpilicueta’s price beyond Barcelona’s reach when they slapped a 10m euros tag on him.
Their resolve not to sell was stiffened as they allowed defenders to leave the club and missed out on replacements – none more so than Jules Kounde who joined Barcelona despite Chelsea’s offer satisfying Sevilla.
Chelsea’s new co-owner Todd Boehly felt that he could not let his captain leave this summer
There was still hope at Barcelona that they could do business with Chelsea by including him in a deal for Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong or Pierre Emerick Aubameyang but the tactic failed.
And while Azpilicueta was open to joining Xavi he was never so keen to leave Chelsea as to position himself in opposition to the club in the way that Lewandowski had done at Bayern Munich.
His family are very settled in London and pleased they are staying and the player himself is also happy with the outcome. He wanted the issue resolved before the start of the season.
He will sign a two-year contract and Barcelona will go back to the drawing board in terms of bringing in an option at right-back. before their season starts on August 13.
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