In a recent report, Marca mentioned that Barcelona have set their sights on Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta. It has been revealed that the Catalans are eager to land the Spanish defender this summer.
Azpilicueta’s Decent Form In English Football
Azpilicueta is having another impressive campaign at West London as he has managed to produce a number of dogged displays on the right side of Tuchel’s defence. The Pamplona-born talent has made 37 appearances for the Blues this season, scoring two goals and picking up three assists in the process across all competitions.
The Spaniard has proven himself to be a solid defender at the back after averaging 2.2 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 2.5 clearances and 0.7 key passes per game in Premier League football. He has even taken care of the ball when playing his way out from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 84.4% in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
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What Will Azpilicueta Add To Barcelona Boss Xavi’s Side?
Azpilicueta has always been a great defender as he can read the danger quickly to secure the ball back on the defensive end of the field. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and is also proficient at passing his way from inside his half. Furthermore, the Spaniard has still got the vision to create some decent chances for his teammates inside the opposition penalty box.
At 32, Azpilicueta has still got a few good years left in him, so Barca would be wise to arrange a move to land him this summer.
The Spanish talent’s current contract at Stamford Bridge runs out in the summer of 2023. Hence, the Catalans would be in a good position to secure his signature on a cut-price deal in this off-season.
The 38-time Spain international has got a wealth of experience under his belt and has got the winning mindset to be a success story under the stewardship of Xavi at the Nou Camp. We can expect the ex-Osasuna player to add more bite and steel to Barcelona’s backline and help them stay competitive at the highest level. Therefore, Xavi should consider getting a deal done for the Chelsea legend during this summer transfer window.
