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César Azpilicueta will not join Barcelona, set to sign a two-year extension with Chelsea – reports.
The full-back has made his decision ahead of the start of the Premier League season
Barcelona seems to have lost their first battle in this summer transfer window as Spanish full-back César Azpilicueta has decided to say no to the Catalan club and is set to sign a two-year extension to stay at Chelsea, as first reported by Gerard Romero and confirmed by several other sources.
Romero says Azpilicueta wanted clarity on his future before the start of the Premier League season this weekend as the negotiations between Chelsea and Barça had dragged on for several weeks without a resolution.
Barça asked for a few more days to resolve their issues regarding the registration of their new signings with La Liga, but the player doesn’t want to wait and has made up his mind on staying at Stamford Bridge.
Romero says Azpilicueta informed both Barça and manager Xavi Hernández about his decision, and his renewal with Chelsea could be made official as soon as today.
Azpilicueta was Xavi’s number one target for the right-back position, and unless the boss decides to pursue other names it looks as though Sergiño Dest and Sergi Roberto will be the two main options for the position, with Ronald Araujo and Jules Koundé also capable of playing the role if needed.
