Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta has revealed why he did not join Barcelona in the summer and instead remained at Chelsea.
Barça heavily pursued Azpilicueta during the 2021/22 season along with fellow Blues defender Marcos Alonso, and while the left-back eventually made the move to Camp Nou, Chelsea's captain did not follow.
Azpilicueta signed a fresh two-year deal at Stamford Bridge in the summer, and speaking ahead of Spain's World Cup last 16 tie with Morocco, he explained his side of the saga.
"At Chelsea I played less than 30 games [last season] and I was already a free agent. It had never happened to me in my life. The new owners arrived and showed me that they wanted me to stay," he said.
"London is my home and my children speak better English than Spanish. When I made the decision, I think Xavi understood. If things are clear, they are understood."
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Azpilicueta has played 17 times for Chelsea so far this season and has remained a regular under new head coach Graham Potter.
He has played in two of Spain's World Cup matches so far this tournament, notably grabbing an assist in their defeat to Japan.
Source : 90min