Antonio Rudiger left Chelsea for Real Madrid last summer. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
According to the Players’ Tribune (h/t the Guardian), Real Madrid transfer target Antonio Rudiger revealed that a break in communication with Chelsea was one of the reasons he decided to look for options outside Stamford Bridge.
Rudiger has been one of the stand-out performers for Chelsea in the last few seasons. Making 53 appearances across all competitions, the German star has shown nothing but commitment and quality throughout this campaign.
But he is now bound to leave the Blues this summer, with Real Madrid circling the talented defender. The PL game against Watford on gameweek 38 could well be his last in a Chelsea shirt.
In a piece for the Players’ Tribune, Rudiger has now revealed that Chelsea broke communication with his agent and kept him hanging for several months which prompted him to look for other options in the market.
“Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall. Business is business, but when you don’t hear any news from the club from August to January, the situation becomes complicated. After the first offer, there was a long gap of just nothing.”
Even though sanctions made it even more difficult in the end, the German defender believed the club could have managed his renewal situation long before the difficulty arrived. He gave a passionate goodbye to the fans and teammates in his piece and added that he has nothing bad to say about the West London-based side.
“Obviously, no one saw the sanctions coming, but in the end, other big clubs were showing interest, and I had to make a decision. I will leave it at that, because business aside, I have nothing bad to say about this club.”
Rudiger has been a world-class player since Tuchel’s arrival and it would be difficult to replace him with a player that possesses similar experience and qualities. He has been a leader on and off the pitch and his departure can hurt the club’s performance in the coming season.
Considering Rudiger’s comments, Chelsea had it coming all along. Why they ignored his renewal deal for such a long time is a huge question, but it could be a big lesson to learn for the future.
At this point, Rudiger’s departure seems unavoidable. But the fans should perhaps only wish him well in his new adventure- wherever it may be. He has been an excellent servant and without his services, Chelsea’s recent triumphs wouldn’t have been possible.
Chelsea must now tread carefully with regards to any players they want to keep and whose contracts are expiring in the near future. It is important for the club to be in contact with their players and converse with them about their futures.
Who knows, if the Blues were actively looking to tie down the former AS Roma defender to a longer deal much earlier this season, maybe we could have seen him take the field for us beyond this summer. Then again, the sanctions placed on the club this year would have raised another potential hurdle but at least the Blues fans wouldn’t have been left to wonder what could have been had we approached him about his Chelsea future earlier.
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