24-year-old defender rejects Barcelona offer in favour of Bayern Munich move
AFC Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui has reportedly rejected Barcelona's offer and is set to join German giants Bayern Munich in the summer, in a bitter blow for the Catalans.
Mazraoui, an Ajax academy product, is nearing the end of his contract with the Dutch giants and is attracting interest from clubs all over Europe.
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Barcelona had emerged as one of his most ardent suitors, and until recently, it appeared that the Blaugrana had secured the Moroccan international's signature on a Bosman deal.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, made a late push for his transfer and appear to have succeeded in luring Mazraoui away from Barcelona.
According to Tutto Mercato Web (via Mundo Deportivo), the 24-year-old right-back has rejected contract offers from Barcelona and AS Roma and will join the German champions when his current contract with Ajax expires.
According to the report, Bayern Munich tabled a lucrative contract offer for the defender worth around €10 million per season, which appears to have been enough to convince Mazraoui to turn down the Catalan giants' advances.
It will be a setback for Barça, given the amount of effort they put in to secure the signing of the Ajax full-back.
While the Blaugrana may be out of the running for Mazraoui, the club is keeping a close eye on Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta's situation.
The 32-year-contract old's was also set to expire on June 30, but it is believed that the Blues have triggered a one-year extension in his contract, with manager Thomas Tuchel also hinting at it in a recent interview.
Despite this, there is a chance that Chelsea will let Azpilicueta leave if he requests it. It remains to be seen whether such a scenario will come to pass. For the time being, if all goes well, Mazraoui will bypass Barcelona and join Bayern Munich.
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