Barcelona are confident that Cesar Azpilicueta will arrive on a free from Chelsea.
The Chelsea captain, who finishes his contract with Chelsea at the end of the season, is seen as a smart addition by the Catalan giants. Azpilicueta’s leadership qualities stand out above all else, which could be especially attractive for a manager with a young squad.
Chelsea have an option to extend the contract by a year if Azpilicueta reaches a certain number of appearances this season, but the option will only be executed if both parties are in agreement over it.
The freeze on Roman Abramovich’s assets could complicate matters however, according to SPORT. Being unable to sign players, it may tempt Chelsea into extending the Spaniard’s contract, in the knowledge that they are likely to lose both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen this summer.
Barcelona are hopeful that Chelsea will behave amicably with Azpilicueta, who has been a key part of the Chelsea defence for nearly a decade now.
