Cesar Azpilicueta has reportedly reached an agreement with Barcelona for a two year contract, with the option for a third, which will see him earn 13 million euros per year at the Camp Nou.
The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Barcelona for months, having spent a decade with the Blues and captaining his side to several Premier League wins and a Champions League trophy across his 471 appearances for the Blues.
And, as per Spanish outlet AS, an agreement has finally been reached for Azpi to join Andreas Christensen on making the switch from Stamford Bridge to Barcelona, the latter having already been confirmed as a free addition.
‘The defender [Azpilicueta] has an agreement already closed for the next two seasons with a fixed salary of 13 million euros gross for each season, including bonuses for signing free. The contract adds the possibility of extending it for one more season’, the Spanish outlet claim.
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Contract a stumbling block
One stumbling block, however, could be the contract extension that was automatically triggered for Azpi earlier in the campaign after he hit a certain number of games.
Speaking about it after it was announced, Tuchel revealed that he now expected the Spaniard to remain a Chelsea player next season.
‘[There is a] Very high probability that he will stay.’
It is now thought that Azpilicueta will approach the new Chelsea owners in an attempt to plead his case to depart the Bridge this summer despite the extension, though with Antonio Rudiger and Christensen both leaving too, even his loyalty to the club may not be enough to convince them to let another experienced defender leave.
Barcelona, however, will be hoping that it will.
