Thiago Silva has paid tribute to Chelsea team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta, describing the 32-year-old as a ‘spectacular footballer’. However, the Blues skipper could be on his way out of the club as he is out of contract in the summer.
The west Londoners are not in a position to offer any new contracts due to the sanctions imposed by the UK government on owner Roman Abramovich. Spanish giants Barcelona are reportedly hopeful of capitalising on the situation by signing the Stamford Bridge stalwart.
Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille, and during his decade at the club has won a plethora of trophies under a number of different managers. But despite the overwhelming success he’s achieved with the Blues, speculation regarding his future has intensified this season with only a few months to go of his existing deal.
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Chelsea remained hopeful that the Spaniard would put pen to paper on a new contract, but negotiations have ceased due to the aforementioned sanctions. The west London club also face similar scenarios with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, both of whom are out of contract in June.
Silva, who joined the Blues on a free transfer in 2020 stressed how important Azpilicueta is to his teammates. The Brazilian defender also lauded his qualities both as a player and as captain.
"Cesar Azpilicueta, since I arrived, was one of my main sources of support," Silva told Mundo Deportivo.
"There are players who have what it takes to be captain and he is one of them. He is a player who seeks union, who tries to help others. He is a spectacular footballer and a super-professional who, with certainty, deserves to be where is. Azpilicueta has beastly conditions."
