Chelsea are planning to hold talks with Cesar Azpilicueta after the international break over his future at the club amid interest from Barcelona, according to reports.
The Chelsea club captain completed his 10th season at the club following the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign, but whether or not he embarks on an 11th with the Blues remains unclear.
After 476 appearances for Chelsea, Azpilicueta is yet to make a decision on if he will make a move to his homeland Spain to join Barcelona who are showing strong interested in the 32-year-old.
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Azpilicueta saw his contract extended by a further year after he triggered a one-year extension in March due to meeting a required number of appearances for his deal to be automatically renewed.
However, despite the extra year it hasn't made a difference over the versatile defender's decision.
According to the Telegraph, Chelsea are now ready to meet with Azpilicueta once he has finished his duties for Spain as they play their final Nations League matches this week.
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"He deserves it. And I listen to my captain. He has been at this club for more than a decade, so he has this right. This is my opinion," said Tuchel back in March when responding to questions if Azpilicueta should get the final say on where his next destination is.
"He is everything Chelsea is about, and I am so, so happy he is the captain because he is humble, hard-working, a nice guy and a polite guy. I am happy that in football, it's possible a guy like this can win all the trophies. That sets the example. It sets the tone. It sets the atmosphere at a very high level.
"This is absolutely clear, but there are more layers and levels we have to consider. It is also whether he can give all that, whether he is fully committed. If he cannot get rid of this feeling (about wanting a new challenge), we have to talk about it openly, seriously, and respectfully because he deserves it.
"We (need to) find out if he can give everything that makes him special. I think, with all the respect, he can only be special if he is committed 100 percent and does not have another little voice in his head, not one concern in his head, that he should have done something differently.
"He is only the guy he is when he is fully committed. That is his foundation. So this is what we have to find out. That does not mean we find it out tomorrow or today, we still have time because we are also in the privileged position where we have a contract. We have to see."
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It's claimed he had been preparing to say farewell this summer, but following the exits of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, plus the new ownership, it has complicated his decision.
As Tuchel pointed out, it is also suggested the club won't stand in his way to join Barcelona if he does want to part ways with the World champions.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea, Barcelona, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Premier League