Willian: 'I never wanted Chelsea exit'

Chelsea forward Willian has insisted that he never wanted to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window.

The 30-year-old scored 13 times and registered 12 assists in 55 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions last season.

The Brazilian was strongly linked with a move away from the Blues during the summer, however, with Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid all credited with an interest.

Willian has played down suggestions that he was keen to leave Chelsea ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, and is now targeting 'another five years' at the club.

"A lot of people they say a lot of things in the press, but I never said that I want to leave Chelsea, never. Always I say that I want to stay at Chelsea as long as possible, and I am happy to stay here," Willian told Chelsea's official website.

"When I arrived here my plan was to stay here as long as possible and now I am here five years I hope to stay five more! I know I have two years of contract left but I hope to stay more years in the Premier League.

"I am very happy to be here five years. I have won titles and played a lot of games with a lot of happy moments, and a few sad moments as well but that is part of football, but these five years have been very good for me and I am proud to be a Chelsea player."

Willian joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2013.