Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta aware of Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao rumours but focusing on Euro 2016

Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted he is aware of rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao, but says his only focus is on helping Spain retain their European Championship crown. However, the Spaniard said it is "good to have teams interested" in his services, as his future is uncertain.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague reported in AS earlier this week that Barcelona have approached Azpilicueta as an alternative signing to Arsenal's Hector Bellerin, who remains the club's first choice to fill the gap left by the departure of Dani Alves to Juventus.

The report added that Athletic Bilbao, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were also circling, with Chelsea demanding around €18m (£14.5m, $19.9m) for the player's signature.

The Spaniard has refused to deny those rumours, saying his focus is on facing his new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in the Euro 2016 clash between Italy and Spain on 27 June.

"At the moment I am at Chelsea. I know there are rumours but right now I am only focused on the national team and Chelsea," he said during an interview with El Confidencial.

Asked about a potential move to Barcelona, he added: "It's summer and there are rumours. It is normal but I am not thinking about it now."

However, when questioned about the links with Athletic Bilbao, he added: "We know how the market is restricted for Athletic [as they only can sign players from the Basque Country]. They continue their philosophy and since I was a kid I have always lived it because I've had colleagues who went to Bilbao to play. I have been away from Spain for six years, four of those at Chelsea, and I am enjoying football. In the future you never know what can happen but it's good to have teams interested in you because it means you're doing well. But I do not give much importance [to those rumours]."

Asked whether he has already had a conversation with Conte about his future at the club, the Spaniard said: "No, he came to the training ground to make a first impression but nothing more.

"Now I just see him as a rival [ahead of the European Championship last 16]. We are now just thinking about our national teams. But I know that his teams are very intense.

"It is still soon [to know what Chelsea can expect from him] because in the summer there will be a lot of movement of players. But of course we are all eager to start a new experience under him. We know what he has done in Italy and we hope he can continue with that success [at Chelsea].