Antonio Rudiger, a defender for Chelsea, has reportedly chosen to quit the club next summer. Rudiger’s contract with Chelsea is slated to expire in 2022.
Over the last two years, the German has been a key member of Chelsea’s squad. Rudiger was a key figure in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League championship last season, and he also played the entire 120 minutes of their UEFA Super Cup victory in 2021.
He has appeared in eight Premier League games and three Champions League games this season, scoring one goal. While Rudiger’s efforts have helped Chelsea reach the top of the English Premier League, his contract status has gotten more attention in recent weeks.
Rudiger’s current contract expires next summer, making him eligible to begin contract negotiations with rival teams in January. Chelsea is said to have offered him a contract extension, but the club and the player could not reach an agreement.
Due to the uncertainties surrounding his contract position, Rudiger is “designed to go”. Due to a disagreement over wage demands, discussions with the German about extending his stay have come to a halt.
The 28-year-old wants his compensation to be doubled by the Blues. That would put him on the verge of earning £200,000 every week. Chelsea, on the other hand, has only given him a £140,000-per-week contract. According to reports, neither side is able to shift its positions, resulting in a deadlock.
Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are among the clubs interested in signing Rudiger.
Antonio Rudiger joined Chelsea from AS Roma in the summer of 2017. In his first season, the German made 45 appearances, scoring three goals and adding two assists.
Rudiger made 44 appearances in the 2018-19 season after that. Frank Lampard’s presence in the Chelsea dugout the following summer limited his development at Stamford Bridge. In place of the German, Lampard decided to use Fikayo Tomori and Andreas Christensen. Rudiger only made 28 appearances across all competitions in the 2019-20 season.
However, Rudiger was re-instated on the Chelsea team sheet after Thomas Tuchel midway through the 2020-21 season. During the season, Rudiger appeared 34 times. He helped the Blues win the Champions League by keeping a clean sheet in the final against Manchester City.
Rudiger has appeared in 161 games for Chelsea, scoring eight goals and assisted on four others. With Chelsea, he has won four trophies: the Champions League, Super Cup, UEFA Europa League, and FA Cup.
Rudiger’s exit would undoubtedly leave a huge hole in Chelsea’s defence, and the Blues may have to spend heavily in the transfer market to replace him.
