'It was a matter of loyalty to the club that gave me everything': Azpilicueta on why he stayed at Chelsea amid Barca interest

Cesar Azpilicueta spoke the The Athletic at length and revealed his thinking behind staying at Chelsea when a transfer to Barcelona looked all but done.

“My situation was unique,” Azpilicueta started. “I didn’t get to the 30 total until March and, by then, we were already operating under sanctions. I could have signed an agreement in January to join a team abroad as a free agent in the summer, but I never had it in my mind. I wanted to be with the club during a difficult situation.

“I had better options in terms of contract years and salary elsewhere, but that’s not what I wanted to do. I’ve been here for over 10 years. I’ve had a chance to create an amazing relationship with the fans, the club, employees. I could not leave.

“Even though I knew what triggering the clause would mean, my heart, my head didn’t allow me to do anything other than keep being ready for every match and playing 30 games. I did not know who the owner was going to be or what situation we were going to end up in, but that is how I felt.”

“It was a matter of loyalty to the club that gave me everything,” he tells The Athletic. “I had won all the trophies with them. We had been crowned the best club in the world (by winning the FIFA Club World Cup last February). I was also made captain.

“I will not hide or be in a position where I only look after myself. By doing that I would let my team-mates, the manager, the club and the fans down. I know there was a big noise because we had other team-mates in a position where they were free agents.

"My name was there as well. But I spoke clearly with my actions. They are more important than talking and then doing your own stuff to protect yourself.

“I ended up signing another contract, with the confidence from the new ownership and in the new era. I have no regrets.”