Antonio Rudiger snubs Chelsea offer to become highest-paid defender as he forces departure
Antonio Rudiger turned down a weekly salary of £230,000 from Chelsea before the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned by the UK government.
The 29-year-old centre-back’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he is almost guaranteed to depart Stamford Bridge due to Abramovich’s assets being frozen.
The Blues are currently functioning under a special license that prevents them from signing or selling players.
Chelsea officials were in talks with the Germany international up until Abramovich’s penalties were enforced, with supporters hoping he would stay.
He was offered a £230,000-per-week contract, making him the club’s highest-paid defender.
Rudiger got the contract offer – Chelsea’s third bid – well before Abramovich was sanctioned.
The signing-on fee and agency fee demands were enormous, but the Blues were still eager to complete the deal and kept plugging away, but to no avail, as he is now set to quit the club.
Rudiger’s next move is anticipated to be confirmed soon by Real Madrid, who are the favorites to sign him.
Andreas Christensen, another centre-back, is expected to leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires in June. Barcelona is the frontrunner in the race to sign him.
Rudiger currently earns roughly £100,000 per week after signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge after joining from Roma in the summer of 2017.
Since Tuchel’s appointment as manager in January 2021, he has been one of Chelsea’s most significant players, helping them win the Champions League last season.
This season, he has appeared in 47 games across all competitions.
There is still a chance Rudiger may stay at Chelsea if the club is sold before he joins a rival team.
He is permitted to negotiate with clubs situated outside of England, such as Real Madrid, but he is not permitted to begin discussions with another Premier League club until July.
The Blues are projected to be sold before the summer because their special license significantly limits their revenue streams.
The Raine Group, a US merchant bank, is handling the sale of Chelsea and is anticipated to reveal a preferred bidder soon.
Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium, which includes Sir Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams, LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly’s consortium, and Atalanta co-owner Steve Pagliuca’s consortium are the three remaining bidders.
Because of the restrictions imposed on Abramovich, the preferred bidder will require government clearance, however none of the consortiums are expected to be hampered.
They will also have to satisfy the Premier League’s test for owners and directors.
If Chelsea’s new owners lose Rudiger and Christensen, they will need to buy massively this summer.
Rudiger will not wait to see what happens with the club’s sale, lowering his chances of remaining in London even further.
ALSO READ:
- Mason Mount to ‘force Man Utd player to leave’ as trio ‘drawing’ him to transfer
- Why Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can beat Man City in FA Cup final
- Chelsea star’s gesture at full-time all but confirms summer departure
- Mauricio Pochettino signs three-year deal to become new Chelsea manager
- Bayern Munich target likely to play for Manchester City next season: Fabrizio Romano
- ‘So smart’: Kevin De Bruyne jokes Man City teammate can play in about 19 different positions
- Pep Guardiola issues worrying injury verdict on Manchester City duo ahead of FA Cup and Champions League Finals
Antonio Rudiger snubs Chelsea offer to become highest-paid defender as he forces departure
