According to a recent report by the Evening Standard, Chelsea winger Willian has clarified that extending his stay at Chelsea does seem ‘impossible’ at this point, despite the love and affection that he has towards the club, the staff and not least, the fans. With that said though, the fact that the Brazilian demanded a three-year deal, while the Blues were only open to offering a two-year one is what has caused this situation.
Speaking to Brazilian TV Show Expediente Futebol, Willian said, “Everyone knows that my contract ends now in a few months, so the renewal is really a difficult thing to happen. I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there, we didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.”
The report also suggests that Willian would prefer to stay in England, even if he is let go by Chelsea in the summer.
What Is Willian’s Legacy At Chelsea?
The Brazilian international winger is a player that needs no introductions in the Premier League circle, having been a Chelsea player since joining in the summer of 2013, right on the back of the Blues’ Europa League final win against Benfica. Despite coming from a relatively ‘smaller’ league when compared to the English top-flight, the speedster was quick to have an impact on the team.
Often seen operating on the flanks, Willian has even been deployed in midfield on a couple of occasions over the years, and it’s safe to say that he’s been an assured presence irrespective of the position he started in. Although the winger does tend to be inconsistent, the fact that he’s stepped up on so many big occasions for Chelsea simply cannot be underplayed. A free-kick specialist as well, the former Anzhi man’s contributions to the Chelsea cause are simply unquantifiable.
Even in the worst of times, Willian has turned out to be a beacon of hope for Chelsea. Under Jose Mourinho, when the Chelsea collapse began the year after they won the title, Willian was the lone shining star. The Brazilian’s trademark curlers will surely be etched in the hearts of Blues’ fans all around the world for a long time to come. The speedster has now played in just under 330 appearances for Chelsea, and his record reads 59 goals and 59 assists.
Is This The Right Time For Chelsea To Sell Willian?
The Blues have been undergoing what can only be described as a youth revolution. With players like Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi gradually coming into the limelight, this could indeed be the right time for the Blues to move on some of the more experienced heads.
While the likes of Pedro and Olivier Giroud could also be offloaded because of this very reason, the fact remains that Willian will have to do with a heavily subdued amount of playing time next season, if he’s still here. Given the campaign that Giroud just went through, it would probably be in the Brazilian’s best interest to find a move away from Stamford Bridge – a stage where he will always be revered as a true legend of the sport.
