Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso admits he has a "desire" to return and play in his native Spain amid transfer links with Barcelona.
The former Real Madrid academy product, who has spent the past six years at Stamford Bridge, has been heavily linked with a return to his homeland this summer with Barcelona tipped to sign a number of Chelsea players. Barcelona already look to have lined up a deal for Blues star Andreas Christensen, while Cesar Azpilicueta could join him at the Nou Camp.
A cut-price move for Alonso is not out of the question either, despite him playing a regular role under Thomas Tuchel last season. Alonso has a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and while the defender insists he is happy to stay, he already has one eye on his next move.
“On paper I have one more year of contract and that is what there is until today,” Alonso told OndaCero (as published by the Evening Standard ). “I’ve already said other times that I would like to but it doesn’t depend entirely on me. There are two games left here and then it’s time to rest.
“I’ve played 50 games, we’ve been world champions, we’ve had bad luck in the cup finals. I can’t complain about anything at Chelsea but the desire to play in Spain is there. It doesn’t depend entirely on me and I’m happy at Chelsea, I’m sincere.”
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The 31-year-old, who prior to Chelsea had spells in England with Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland, is currently on international duty and earned his eighth international cap on Sunday when playing the duration of Spain’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League.
Alonso will hope to add to his number of caps and look to score his first international goal in their final two Nations League ties this month. Spain take on Switzerland on Thursday night away from home before playing host to Czech Republic three days later.
In his six years at Stamford Bridge, Alonso has made made over 200 appearances, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, as well as finishing as a runner-up in four FA Cup finals and two Carabao Cup finals.
Should Alonso head to Spain, he would not be the only member of last season’s Chelsea squad playing in Spain next season. Star centre-back Antonio Rudiger has already signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer after opting against penning a new a deal at Stamford Bridge. Saul Niguez has also returned to Atletico Madrid following the expiration of his loan spell at Chelsea.
