Cesar Azpilicueta was overwhelmed with emotions as he announced his Chelsea exit in a tearful farewell message.
The Spaniard will be among big-name Chelsea players that are leaving the club this summer.
The 33-year-old cried for minutes as he revealed he is wrapping up a trophy-laden career with the Blues for a new chapter in his homeland, Spain.
Azpilicueta had a year remaining in his Chelsea contract but we understand Chelsea reached an agreement with the player to allow him leave the club on a free transfer as a matter of goodwill and the club’s immense respect for the player.
Inter Milan were reportedly interested in Azpilicueta but sources close to the player revealed he turned down the offer and opted for a return to his homeland to sign for La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Cesar Azpilicueta’s Atletico Madrid deal is done and dusted with the La Liga giants offering him a one-year contract till 2024.
For the first time in 11 years, Cesar Azpilicueta will cease to fly Chelsea shirt in competitive action as he opens a new chapter in his career with Atletico Madrid.
Azpilicueta was the longest-serving Chelsea player, having joined the club in 2012 from Olympique Marseille.
He is the most decorated player in the Chelsea history having won all available trophies with the club.
Azpilicueta Chelsea stats
Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in 2012 for an undisclosed transfer fee believed to be £7m.
He made his Chelsea debut in a league cup match against Wolves on September 25, 2012, helping the team to an emphatic 6-0 win.
Azpilicueta made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 victory over Norwich City.
He scored his first Chelsea goal in a 2-0 league cup win over Arsenal.
Azpilicueta was orginally deployed as a left-back at Chelsea but was converted to a full center-back under Antonio Conte who started adopting a three-man defense formation.
He was appointed Chelsea captain in 2019 after Cahill left the club. The Spaniard hit is 100th appearance for Chelsea in style on January 1, 2020, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Brighton and clinching the Man of the Match Award.
On January 21, 2023, Cesar Azpilicueta became the first foreign player to hit a 500th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions.
He has gone ahead to make a total of 508 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and providing 56 assists.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s Chelsea honors and awards
Cesar Azpilicueta has won the Premier League two times in 2014/15 and 2015/17 seasons.
He won the FA Cup in 2018, and three consecutive times in 2020, 2021, and 2022, including the EFL Cup twice in 2019 and 2021.
After being appointed Chelsea captain in 2019, Azpilicueta led Chelsea to their second Champions League trophy in 2020/21 season seeing off domestic rivals Manchester City with a 1-0 win.
He has won the UEFA Europa League two times, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
In 2013/14 season, Cesar Azpilicueta won Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year. He made it to the 2018/19 Europa League Squad of the Season and 2020/21 Champions League Squad of the Season.
Cesar Azpilicueta Atletico Madrid contract
Cesar Azpilicueta has signed a one-year contract with Atletico as he returns to his homeland in what will be the last lap of his legendary career.
