Cesar Azpilicueta has explained why he changed his mind to stay at Chelsea, despite a six-month pursuit by Barcelona.
The captain was expected to move back to his native Spain but decided to extend his contract by a year until 2024 after talks with head coach Thomas Tuchel and the new owners.
“Yes, the conversations were there [with Barcelona], all around the club,” Azpilicueta said, after he helped Chelsea to a 1-0 win at Everton on Saturday.
“After the Club World Cup, where I became the only player to ever win every trophy, [I felt] it was the time to go back to Spain. But then everything happened with this club. I wanted to stay committed. I never did anything against my club. We had private conversations where I said everything.
“I have never been in a transfer market situation in 10 years. It was different. The last time was Marseille and this time the contract situation made it different because I had this clause [to extend my deal] after a number of games.
“For a period I was a free agent and who knows what could have happened then? I decided to stay silent because there was already enough noise around me. I didn’t want to make it worse because I wanted to stay focused on my game.”
Azpilicueta spoke of the significance of winning the Club World Cup in February.
“It was a turning point,” said the 32-year-old. “I tried so hard to win this trophy. At that moment I felt differently. At that moment it was like, ‘wow, I have won everything for this club’, so maybe a new chapter arrives. It’s true that at the last break my performances were not as good as before.
“I paid a big price for playing from December to February. I think I played the most minutes and I did it playing wing-back. Of course, I am not getting younger and it is a position that demands a lot of energy every three days.
“I think all the emotions, feelings and tiredness made me feel like this. In the last two months [of the season], I wasn’t as good physically as before.”
Azpilicueta’s new deal offers him a modest pay rise and a challenge to knit together the project under the new owners.
“I am really excited, otherwise [I wouldn’t sign],” he said. “The owners wanted me to stay here to lead the team both on and off the pitch. It’s a big thank-you to them. They were very honest and transparent from the first day. I felt a responsibility to stay here in my home.
“We have a new project, with new players and youngsters coming in. I feel ready to look forward.”
