{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Sources: Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta reaches agreement in principle to join Barcelona
Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta has reached an agreement in principle to join Barcelona this summer, Football Insider understands.
The Blues skipper, 32, is out of contract in the summer and has knocked back offers from the club to extend.
A Spanish source has told Football Insider that the Catalan club have agreed a deal in principle for Azpilicueta to join on a free transfer.
It is expected the deal for the big Chelsea favourite will be completed at the end of the season.
It would bring to an end Azpilicueta’s glittering 10-year stay at Stamford Bridge, where he has won every major trophy.
Chelsea are currently unable to negotiate new contracts due to the sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich by the UK Government.
The 32-year-old has played a whopping 463 games for Chelsea across his 10-year stay, scoring 16 goals and assisting 56.
Azpilicueta has made 36 appearances for Spain since making his debut in February 2013.
He captained his country for the first time in a World Cup qualifier against Georgia in September 2021.
Azpilicueta, who can play on both flanks as well as in the heart of the defence, came through the ranks at Osasuna.
He made 106 appearances for the Pamplona side before moving to French giants Marseille in 2010.
The Spaniard played 68 times across two seasons for the French Riviera club before moving to west London in 2012 for a reported initial fee of £6.5million.
Chelsea sit third in the Premier League and are still vying for silverware in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Under the stewardship of Xavi, Barcelona sit third in La Liga – some 15 points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid.
In other news, Man United “confident” of signing Chelsea star amid significant Thomas Tuchel development.