‘Maybe a cycle is at its end’: Thomas Tuchel admits Cesar Azpilicueta could leave for Barcelona this summer – despite Chelsea’s attempts to keep the club captain with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger both departing
Thomas Tuchel has conceded captain Cesar Azpilicueta may be on his way out The Chelsea star’s contract was extended by a year after triggering an extensionBut there is serious interest from Spanish side Barcelona in signing the defenderAnd Tuchel admitted he is open to letting him go despite the defensive exodusAntonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen are leaving on free transfers this summer
Cesar Azpilicueta could be on his way out from Chelsea despite the club’s attempts to keep him amid a defensive exodus, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.
Centre backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, both out of contract this summer, are set to leave for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively on free transfers.
And despite Azpilicueta triggering a contract extension after a certain number of appearances, Blues boss Tuchel admitted they may allow him to leave for Barcelona after 474 appearances in all competitions across a decade of sterling service.
Cesar Azpilicueta could be on his way out at Chelsea, according to Blues boss Thomas Tuchel
The club are in talks to reluctantly release the Spaniard from his deal after 10 years of service
He said: ‘It felt like he won everything after the Club World Cup, then suddenly given his personal situation I can understand these thoughts that maybe a cycle is at its end. Then it’s a change of ownership and he played only under this owner, in this structure, so it maybe increased even his second thoughts about his situation.
‘Then his (contract) extension kicked in at the same time and he loves the club, he…