Chelsea Star Reveals he Snubbed Barcelona to Stay at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea defender David Luiz has confirmed he turned down the chance to join Barcelona during the summer transfer window.

The Brazil international was understood to be a top target for the Spanish giants this summer and the player now revealed that an official approach was made. However, the 26-year-old rejected the chance to move to Camp Nou as he was content with life at Stamford Bridge.

"There was an official offer [from Barcelona], but I decided to stay at Chelsea. I am happy to play for a big club and be in the national team to represent my country," the centre-back pointed out.

Luiz moved to Chelsea from Benfica in January 2011, for €25m [£21.1m] plus Nemanja Matic moving in the opposite direction. The player made 57 appearances in all competitions for the Blues last season, scoring seven times.

Barcelona's offer for the defender was reportedly around £21.5m but Chelsea knocked it back. After failing with moves for top targets Luiz, Liverpool's Daniel Agger and Paris Saint Germain's Thiago Silva, the Catalans decided not to pursue other players to strengthen their defence this summer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's Gary Cahill believes there is no chance that teammate and fellow defender John Terry would come out of international retirement to help England.

The 32-year-old, who was a former captain of the Three Lions, decided to hang up his boots last year, following a racism row with the then-QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Roy Hodgson's men go into their World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine with lack of experienced players in defense but Cahill is certain that Terry would not consider a return to the national side.

"That decision has been made. He has moved on now. I think that's done and dusted. That decision has been made and that's all history now. We know how well he did for his country and that's that," Cahill said.