Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Antonio Rudiger will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The German’s contract is set to expire in June and, despite claiming that the Blues fought to keep the defender at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel said that government sanctions made it harder to persuade the player to stay:
“The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk. We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore because of the actions. Without the sanctions, we would have at least had the chance to keep fighting for Rudiger to stay but for many weeks now, our hands have been tied.”
Fans on Twitter are, unsurprisingly, very disappointed that Rudiger has decided to move on, but the majority are wishing him well for the future:
Oh well
— Fisherman 🎣 (@Fizzzy_) April 24, 2022
Pain
— ChelskiDini (@CfcDini_) April 24, 2022
All the best dude.
— COURTNEY CRYPTO HUB (@COURTNEYHUB_) April 24, 2022
Thank you for your service we wish you the very best we move
— CENT_EI (@Eze3486) April 24, 2022
Am I missing something? He has a deal u til the end of the season. We all know he can sign for who he wants in the summer regardless so why can’t he wait until then? He’s still getting paid until then anyway
— Bleedblue (@chelsisourname) April 24, 2022
Good bye to him
— Mildred (@Mild_Kerr) April 24, 2022
No hate towards Rudiger. Man has been showing commitment as though he renewed his contract. A bravado attitude.
— Sturd (@Sturd18) April 24, 2022
Goodluck to him
— Victor (@Ovee74) April 24, 2022
Oh well. Need to drop him for the rest of the season now. He’s only had one good year in a Chelsea shirt anyway
— Lewis (@ooOKlgOoo) April 24, 2022
It does appear that money was the main issue in negotiations. Rudiger is currently earning only £90,000 a week and, with some of the club’s other senior stars earning in excess of £300,000 a week, there is a large disparity.
Before the sanctions, Chelsea had offered to pay the centre-half around £230,000 a week, making him the club’s best-paid defender, but he rejected the proposal; mainly due to the fact he had received better offers elsewhere, with one team said to be prepared to pay him £290,000 a week.
Despite interest from Manchester United and other clubs, it does look as though Rudiger will be playing his football in Spain next season, with Real Madrid believed to be favourites to secure his signature.
