According to The Standard, Chelsea are set to confirm they have extended Willian’s contract for another year, keeping him at the club until 2021. This has left many of the Stamford Bridge support split over the news.
The Brazilian has played a huge part in the club’s success since joining the club from Anzhi Makhachkala for around £30m in 2013, having won five major titles – two of which are the Premier League. Willian has made 292 appearances for the Blues, scoring 52 goals and assisting 53.
There has always been a love-hate relationship between both the 30-year-old and the club’s supporters and that has been mirrored on social media following news of his contract extension. One supporter said he was in a nightmare, pleading to be woken up whilst another questioned what the player had against the board as they have sold all of the deadwood barring him.
Chelsea are currently operating under a transfer ban which means they are unable to bring in any additions until next summer. That may have had some influence on the matter as the club have often tried to avoid keeping anyone over the age of 30 on any longer term deals.
Other Blues fans said the move was understandable as they could get a transfer fee for him next year. This was echoed by a fellow member of the Chelsea fanbase who claimed it would make him more valuable to sell and that a Chinese club would probably come in for him because they love players from South America.
Here’s the best of the reaction:
NIGHTMARE. PLEASE WAKE ME UP
— IgiEkaKurniawan (@igiekakurniawan) July 25, 2019
The year is 2050 and Willian is still the number 10 coming off the bench for Chelsea & signing yearly contract extensions
— Imran Nurmagomedov (@Khaanyounot) July 25, 2019
Tryna get a decent transfer fee for him next year. Understantable
— Samson (@SamsunTy) July 25, 2019
Let him go
— ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? (@StayingSLY) July 25, 2019
Not terrible. Makes him worth more if we do sell him. A team in China or something will probably still pay big bucks f9r him even if he has signed a new contract because over there let’s face it, they love flair players, especially ones from South America
— Eli Pettitt (@PettittEli) July 25, 2019
Honestly, what does willian has against Chelsea board?
Chelsea can sell the whole team but won’t sell this deadwood.— 254~Patriot (@254champion) July 25, 2019
Excellent news.A richly talented winner!!!????
— John Poyner (@poynej62) July 25, 2019
Wake me up. Tell me this is not real
— Igiekakurniawan (@igiekakurniawan) July 25, 2019
Only positive in this is..hes only getting a season so we can rebuild for next season & we sell him next season. Or he stays & he retires. He wants his uk citizenship so he won’t leave uk, so next season if we try & sell will have to be a English club.
— conran (@conranKstar) July 25, 2019
In some ways this isn’t a bad thing. Although I don’t necessarily agree with it, his experience at this time is key. Once CHO is back up and running, CHO and Pulisic will be the first names on the team sheet and Pedro and Willian will be their back up. Experience is needed
— UncleTog1??9??8??9?????????? (@tog1989) July 25, 2019
