KEY POINTS

  • Cesar Azpilicueta's current deal is due to expire in the 2022 summer
  • He has not signed an extension with Chelsea yet
  • Barcelona are interested in signing Azpilicueta

A few players in the Chelsea camp are reportedly unhappy with the way the club is handling the contract situation of Cesar Azpilicueta.

Chelsea captain Azpilicueta has less than six months left on his current deal with Chelsea but the right-back has not signed an extension yet amid strong interest from FC Barcelona. This has left some of his teammates "bewildered" as they believe Azpilicueta is an integral member of the side, reported Eurosport. However, International Business Times could not verify it independently.

Chelsea are already planning a farewell for their captain. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich considers Azpilicueta as "one of the most important footballers in the history of the club" and is preparing a "farewell with magnificence" for the Blues' captain, according to Catalan media outlet El Nacional.

Having been at Chelsea for close to a decade now, Azpilicueta is an integral member of the Blues squad. He helped the side win many trophies, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League.

Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta lifts the Champions League trophy
Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta lifts the Champions League trophy POOL / CARL RECINE

Azpilicueta hopes to continue at Chelsea, while he is also aware of the interest in him. Considering he has not agreed to an extension yet, he wants to keep his options open, the Eurosport report claimed.

It has been reported that Barcelona are in "advance talks" with Azpilicueta, who is wanted by Xavi Hernandez at Camp Nou and president Joan Laporte has agreed to his coach's wish. Keeping in mind Barcelona's financial crisis, the Catalans want to focus on players who are set to become free agents at the end of the 2021-22 season and Azpilicueta is one of them.

If Barcelona manage to land the Chelsea captain, it would be Azpilicueta's return to Spain after 11 long years after he had left Osasuna to join French club Marseille.

Apart from Azpilicueta, Chelsea's other defenders, such as Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, have also not signed an extension yet with the club. While Christensen is still expected to sign a new deal, France national Rudiger is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022.

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