Barcelona are determined to sign Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Chelsea captain’s contract had been set to expire at the end of this season only for the Premier League club to unilaterally trigger an option to extend it for another campaign.
This is a blow to Barcelona but Mundo Deportivo report that it hasn’t affected their desire to sign the man from Pamplona.
As soon as Chelsea come under new ownership they’re going to open negotiations with them over Azpilicueta. They admire his experience and versatility; he can play right-back or centre-back.
Barcelona believe Azpilicueta can be the Carles Puyol of Xavi Hernandez’s new-look Barcelona; a discreet but committed leader of men blessed with aggression as well as nobility.
And Azpilicueta wants to return home to Spain.
He’s enjoyed ten years at Stamford Bridge and has won everything possible but now the time is right for a new challenge.
Having said that, his focus right now is 100% on Chelsea.
The Blues are eleven points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and have a Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid on the horizon.
His focus is unwavering.
