Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta was linked with a move to Barcelona.

The Blues hero was wanted by Barca boss Xavi Hernandez, and Azpilicueta himself was keen on a move.

However, the club didn’t want him to leave, and Azpilicueta ended up signing a new two-year contract.

Azpilicueta has admitted it would be selfish of him to have left the club this summer when he was needed by the new owners under this transition period.

“I always stayed committed to the club, it’s how I’ve been since day one,” Azpilicueta told Sky Sports on Friday.

“This is my home and I never took the selfish decision [to leave].

“After the Club World Cup, I shared my feelings [about leaving], it was never a decision about contract years or wages. I expressed my feelings and then everything changed with the ownership and sanctions.

“I dealt with the situation in my own way. We [he and the new owners] had honest conversations and I’m really proud to be the Chelsea captain and I’m looking forward for the next years. I decided that the best thing for everybody was to stay.”

He added: “It’s very important that we keep the ambition high and keep winning trophies – and we have showed that with our transfers and the new players coming in.

“I’ve seen a great ambition, they [the owners] have been very transparent and honest since the first day.”