Real Madrid to send doctors for Antonio Rudiger's medical. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)
According to football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is set to depart the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The central defender will see his current contract with the west London side expire in the summer.
Rudiger joined the Blues in 2017 from AS Roma, and although he initially struggled to adapt to the quick pace and physicality of the Premier League and was widely criticised for his displays on the pitch, the German has proven to become one of the top-flight’s most consistent defenders over the past couple of years.
Now, after spending five years in the capital, it looks like the 29-year-old is set to exit the club to seek a new challenge elsewhere. Romano confirmed that ‘it’s over’ for Rudiger and Chelsea’s relationship, bringing to an end a successful career at Stamford Bridge where he managed to win a FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and a UEFA Europa League.
Although he improved as a better player after a tough start to life at Chelsea, the arrival of current manager Thomas Tuchel seems to have really invigorated the defender and brought out a different beast in him. Since then, Rudiger has been a regular feature for the head coach, and has rarely missed a game for the side.
Romano revealed that the former Stuttgart man will depart the Blues on a free transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window, as he cannot wait for more than two months to see if the club are able to find a new owner for themselves after not receiving any bids on the table as of yet. Besides, the player was also looking for a new challenge in his career.
The football journalist also said that Real Madrid are close to finding an agreement for the free transfer of Rudiger, with the La Liga giants looking to make the most of his contract situation at Chelsea to snap up a talented player without having to spend a penny.
At 29, the Germany international is in the prime years of his playing career, and any club would find it a steal for them to be able to sign him for free in the upcoming summer transfer window. Thus far, it seems as though Real are the lucky ones to get this benefit.
It will come as a big blow to Chelsea, who will lose arguably their most consistent and best player over the past couple of years. Tuchel’s arrival brought a lot of success to the club in terms of trophies, and Rudiger played an integral part in the side’s winning run.
Even though he may be set for an exit from Stamford Bridge, the central defender still has a chance to help his side qualify for the Champions League and lift another FA Cup by the end of the season, so he is able to depart the club in the best possible manner and leave with fond memories.
Given this, Tuchel and the Blues will need to be on the hunt for a replacement for Rudiger in the summer. It will not be an easy task however, but hopefully, we are able to carry on our good form without the German effectively shielding the rearguard.
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