Atletico Madrid have extended the contract of defender Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Spanish side have also confirmed the exits of Memphis Depay, Gabriel Paulista and Mario Hermoso.
Azpilicueta joined Atletico last summer from Chelsea, having made 508 appearances and won the Champions League with the Premier League side.
The 34-year-old made 34 appearances for Atletico last season, featuring at centre-back and right-back.
On Azpilicueta’s contract extension, Atletico said: “His experience and hierarchy soon made him a fundamental cornerstone in the dressing room, as well as one of the most popular and admired players by our faithful that will keep on enjoying his football for one more season.”
Memphis is with the Netherlands at Euro 2024 (ANP via Getty Images)
The Athletic had previously reported that Memphis was set to leave Atletico this summer. When he joined from Barcelona in January 2023, Athletico’s announcement had implied that Memphis would be contracted until the summer of 2025. The Dutchman’s deal actually stipulated that he had to play at least 45 minutes in 50 per cent of the games when he was available, otherwise, the agreement was not extended for the 2024-25 campaign.
Memphis featured 40 times for Atletico after joining from Barcelona but started only 14 times, therefore falling below the required threshold. In those games, the 30-year-old registered 13 goals and two assists.
Paulista, 33, joined Atletico in January from fellow La Liga side Valencia. The former Arsenal centre-back made only five appearances for Atletico.
Hermoso, 29, played 174 times for Atletico after joining from Espanyol in 2019. Last season, the defender made 45 appearances for Atletico in all competitions.
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