Barcelona favoured to sign Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in 2022

Barcelona are ‘leading the race’ to sign Cesar Azpilicueta on a free transfer next summer… with his Chelsea team-mates ‘fearful he has his heart set on an exit’ after almost 10 years at Stamford Bridge

  • Cesar Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2012 for just £6.5million
  • He has won the Premier League twice and the Champions League with the club
  • His contract is set to expire next year, and he is yet to agree an extension 
  • Barcelona are the frontrunners to sign the defender on a free transfer in 2022 

Barcelona have emerged as the favourites to sign Cesar Azpilicueta on a free transfer next year, with the Spaniard’s Chelsea teammates now fearing that their captain’s days at Stamford Bridge are numbered, according to reports.

Azpilicueta arrived in England in 2012, costing Chelsea just £6.5million, and he has proved to be an inspired signing.

During his time in west London, he has won the Premier League twice, plus lifted the Champions League trophy for the first time back in May.

Cesar Azpilicueta has been a key figure at the back for Chelsea for much of the past decade

He has picked up multiple trophies with Chelsea, including the UEFA Super Cup in August

However, his contract is set to run out in June, and Barcelona are leading the race for his signature, as reported by ESPN. Atletico Madrid are also understood to be interested in bringing the 32-year-old back to his homeland.

There is still time for Azpilicueta to agree an extension with Chelsea, and talks remain ‘active’, but it has been claimed that negotiations have stalled between the player and the club.

One stumbling block in getting a deal across the finish line appears to be the length of the contract that Azpilicueta wants in order to remain in London.

The versatile defender has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks as he has only started two of Chelsea’s last eight top-flight fixtures.

Reece James has consistently kept Azpilicueta out of the Chelsea team in recent weeks

Reece James appears to have made the right wing-back position his own, while Thomas Tuchel has put his faith in the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Andreas Christensen rather than Azpilicueta in the side’s back three.

It seems that Chelsea’s players would like to see the experienced defender stick around, but this now looks to be unlikely. 

Azpilicueta is believed to be keen on taking on a fresh challenge, and he will be free to talk to foreign clubs about his future when the transfer window reopens next month.  




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