Real Madrid have received a major blow in pursuit of N’Golo Kante, who has signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea, the club announced on Friday.
Chelsea have made an official statement to announce that N’Golo Kante has committed his long-term future to the club. The French international, who has been heavily linked with Real Madrid lately, has put pen to paper on a new contract that will tie him down to the former Premier League champions till June 2023.
Kante arrived at Chelsea as a Premier League champion in the summer of 2016, having played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s shock title triumph in the 2015-16 season. The Frenchman made an instant impact at Stamford Bridge as well, establishing himself as a mainstay in a campaign that saw the Blues win the league title, with his exploits helping Kante sweep the Player of the Year awards in England.
The 27-year-old was one of the standouts in a sub-par season for Chelsea before playing a key role in France’s triumph at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, Kante’s future at the Bridge has been a subject of intense speculation lately, particularly with Real Madrid and a few other clubs showing interest in him.
It has been a stop-start campaign for Real Madrid, with all the departments struggling to perform on a consistent basis. Midfield has been particularly disappointing as despite the presence of stalwarts such as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, which has seen them pursue players who could add more tenacity in the middle of the park.
To that end, Real Madrid have turned their attention towards Chelsea, with Kante emerging as one of their top targets who could help create a midfield pivot alongside Casemiro to allow the more creative players the freedom and license to charge forward.
Chelsea though, have been keen to ward off Real Madrid and other suitors in pursuit of Kante by tying him down to a new contract that would make him one of the highest paid players at Stamford Bridge. And, the Blues have finally succeeded in reaching an agreement with the French international over an improved deal.
Kante has put pen to paper on a five-year deal that will run through to the summer of 2023, effectively putting paid to Real Madrid’s hopes of signing him. Upon officially extending his stay at Chelsea, the 27-year-old expressed his delight at pledging his long-term future to the Blues.
“I’m happy to extend my time with Chelsea, it has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come. Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about. I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time.”
With that, Chelsea will have hoped to thwart Real Madrid off at least one of their superstars, and Eden Hazard would undoubtedly be the next extension on their agenda in order to keep Los Blancos at bay once again.
