Football News: Cesar Azpilicueta renews his contract with Chelsea in a shock move for Barcelona

The Spain international agreed to join Barcelona a few months ago, but talks between the two clubs froze earlier than expected, and Azpilicueta has decided to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The two clubs could not reach a deal, but the Blues were allowed to extend the defender's tenure in west London.

Chelsea has extended the contract of defender Cesar Azpilicueta. The agreement extends the Barcelona target's stay at Stamford Bridge until 2024.

The 32-year-old intended to decide his future before Saturday Chelsea's Premier League opener against Everton.

He already informed Barcelona of his decision and signed a two-year contract with the London club.

Azpilicueta was initially a top goal for the Spanish giants ahead of the summer transfer season, alongside Robert Lewandowski. He joined the club from Bayern Munich in a €50 million (£42m/$51m) move last month.

Azpilicueta also reacted to his new contract, "I am really happy to extend my stay at Chelsea, my home."

He added, "It is almost 10 years since I first arrived and joined the club so I really feel the love and I am really excited for the new project we have in our hands."

Why Azpilicueta's move comes as a surprise?

Azpilicueta has been conspicuously absent from Chelsea's pre-season coverage, despite being a fixture on the club's roster for nearly a decade.

Despite participating in the US games and playing 90 minutes against Udinese last weekend, the club captain has been on the outside, and there was a very evident reason.

Since January, it has been evident that a move to Barcelona was on the cards. Even after triggering a 12-month extension to his contract in April, the 32-year-odd old's of staying was not significantly boosted.

He did not grant interviews to the press contingent that travelled across the Atlantic. His participation in the club's social media posts was unusual.

This was one of the most recognisable Chelsea faces, receding into the background during a summer transition.

Azpilicueta was sure that despite playing a sufficient number of games last season to renew his contract, he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer before Roman Abramovich sold the club.

Todd Boehly, on the other hand, may realise that his ability to keep Azpilicueta out of trouble may be more valuable off the field than on it.

Chelsea has had a summer of transition. Marina Granovskaia, Bruce Buck, and Petr Cech are no longer with the club.

For the time being, Boehly has taken on the position of sporting director. Old faces have left, and new ones have arrived.

Boehly thought he couldn't allow his captain to depart before taking command, at least not without a big-name new arrival.

Chelsea knew they were pricing Azpilicueta out of reach for Barcelona when they tagged him for £8 million.

Their resolve to not sell was strengthened as they let defenders leave and failed to replace them, most notably Jules Kounde, who joined Barcelona despite Chelsea's offer satisfied Sevilla.

Barcelona hoped to do business with Chelsea by adding him in a deal for Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, or Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, but the strategy failed.

Azpilicueta told Xavi last December that as Chelsea's club captain, he would never quit the club in the middle of the season but was open to a move this summer if the two teams could work something out.

Xavi has also expressed a desire to improve the character of his team. He wants experienced, battle-hardened winners, and he saw those attributes in the Spain international, as in Robert Lewandowski.

Follow all of today's Football matches on our Live Match Centre