Chelsea FC has made the decision to let their long-serving player, Cesar Azpilicueta, leave the club on a free transfer. The versatile defender is set to sign a two-year deal with La Liga giants, Atletico Madrid. This move comes as a matter of respect, as Azpilicueta has been a loyal servant to the London club.
According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Azpilicueta will sign a contract with Atletico Madrid that will keep him in the Spanish capital until 2025. Despite having a year left on his current agreement with Chelsea, the club has allowed him to depart and return to Spanish football.
Several other clubs were interested in signing the Spain international, including Inter Milan. However, Azpilicueta ultimately decided to make his move to Atletico Madrid. The 33-year-old’s ability to play in multiple positions will be valuable to Atletico, as their preferred system involves a three-at-the-back formation. Azpilicueta can either slot in as a third center back or play as a right wing back.
Since joining Chelsea from Marseille in 2012, Azpilicueta has made 508 appearances for the club. He has scored 17 goals and provided 56 assists across all competitions. His departure will be a significant loss for Chelsea, who have already seen a number of key players leave during the summer transfer window.
Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante have both chosen to showcase their talents in the Saudi Pro League. Koulibaly will join Al-Hilal, while Kante has signed with Al-Ittihad. Additionally, Kai Havertz has left Chelsea to join Arsenal, and Mateo Kovacic has joined Manchester City.
With so many changes in the squad, it will be interesting to see how Chelsea will set up for the upcoming season. In recent news, Chelsea completed the signing of 22-year-old striker Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal. The Senegal international expressed his excitement about joining the club, stating that he believes he will achieve great things at Stamford Bridge.
Overall, the departure of Azpilicueta will be a blow to Chelsea, but they are continuing to strengthen their squad for the future. It remains to be seen how the team will adapt and perform without their long-term servant, but fans will undoubtedly be eager to see the new signings in action.
