Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta makes LaLiga return with Atletico de Madrid

Long-serving Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has departed the club after 11 years to make a return to LaLiga with Atletico de Madrid.

Chelsea's long-serving captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has bid farewell to the club after an impressive 11-year tenure and is set to make a return to LaLiga with Atletico de Madrid. The 33-year-old Spanish defender joined Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille and quickly became an influential figure, eventually being appointed as the club's captain. Throughout his time at Chelsea, Azpilicueta achieved remarkable success, winning numerous major trophies and accumulating over 500 appearances for the Blues.

However, Azpilicueta has now made a move to Atletico de Madrid on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract with the club. This marks his return to the Spanish top flight, where he previously spent three seasons with Osasuna earlier in his career.

In recent times, Azpilicueta's opportunities at Chelsea had become somewhat limited. Despite featuring in 25 Premier League matches during a tumultuous campaign for the Blues last year, he started only 16 of those games. Seeking a fresh challenge and more playing time, Azpilicueta has made the decision to embark on a new chapter of his career with Atletico de Madrid.