Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has revealed that he is staying ‘at home’ after signing contract extension at the club.
The Spaniard revealed that their Club World Cup win made him consider a new challenge, after wining every trophy with the Blues.
Azpilicueta signed a two-year deal last week to an end his link with Barcelona
He was due to be out of contract at the end of last season before triggering a one-year extension after hitting a pre-agreed number of appearances in March.
In an exclusive interview, the 32-year-old revealed how happy he was to remain at Stamford Bridge.
‘I am really happy. Of course, it has been a crazy last few months. It felt right to carry on my journey here in a new project and I am really looking forward to the new season.
‘It’s true that it is a very rare situation. For a period I was a free agent and who knows what could have happened in that period. I was out of contract until March. I played the games [to trigger a one year renewal] but the club was still under sanctions so everybody can talk for you and your name.
‘I decided to stay silent because I think there was already enough noise around me.
‘My actions spoke for themselves. I stayed committed to the club, I played the games and that’s even though I didn’t know what was going to happen. The new owners arrived and we had very honest conversations. I decided that it was right to stay at home.
‘The conversations were there [with Barcelona]. All surrounding the club. 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 to the club. I never did anything against my club. We had private conversations where I said everything.’
Azpilicueta opened up further on the dilemma February’s Club World Cup win in Abu Dhabi created.
‘It was a turning point at the Club World Cup. I tried so hard to win this trophy. My last trophy remaining so I could be the only player who has won every trophy for the club,’ he said.
‘At that moment, I felt differently. 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 and playing the Club World Cup. I think all the emotions, feelings and tiredness made me feel like this. The last two months I wasn’t as good physically as before.’
‘I am really excited otherwise [I wouldn’t sign]. I am very honest and I had conversations with them. We expressed our opinions and I had a meeting with the owners.
‘They 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. My family are happy here.
