Willian evidently set to bring his seven-year association with Chelsea to an end after failing to agree terms with the club upon the expiration of his current deal.
The Brazilian international is said to have wanted a three-year contract extension but the Blues were only willing to offer a two-year extension and latest reports suggest that he is on his way to Arsenal, after a video leaked showing him in the club’s jersey.
Having picked up an ankle injury in the FA Cup final loss to Arsenal, it looks like Willian has played his last match for Chelsea and addressing his absence from the travelling party to tackle Bayern Munich in the Champions League, his manager said that it was an injury that prevented him from travelling, maintaining that the player has maintained optimum professionalism despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Speaking on this, Lampard said: “I haven’t got an answer [whether Willian would remain at Chelsea next season], “because Willian remains our player at the moment. It actually doesn’t matter about disappointment from any party in this situation,” he told reporters.
”Certainly, as a club we have done everything we can to explain to Willian, and mine and his relationship is close. I’d have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on. I’ve played with him, coached him, he’s a fantastic man and a fantastic player. He’ll feel like that about Chelsea… But I don’t want anyone to try and find a negative attitude, because the club have acted very well in this as well.”
However, according to reports by ESPN, the 31-year-old is upset about how his exit from Chelsea is being handled and feels like he was not given much of an option by the club.
Willian is 'upset and offended' with how Chelsea have ended his Stamford Bridge career after facing a 'take it or leave it offer from Marina Granovskaia' – as he agrees three-year Arsenal contract. According to ESPN. pic.twitter.com/CSMYzmW5kh
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) August 7, 2020
Willian had shared the Stamford Bridge dressing room with Lampard in the last year of his Chelsea career and has been managed by his former teammate since 2019.
He has made 339 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions since arriving from Anzhi Makhackala in 2013, scoring 63 goals and providing 62 assists, while he has also won five major trophies including two Premier League titles and the Europa League.
