Antonio Rüdiger close to completing move to Real Madrid
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the player’s decision to leave Chelsea as he moves closer to completing a move to the Santiago Bernabéu for the coming season.
Real Madrid are closing in on the signing of Antonio Rüdiger. The Chelsea defender has played a key role in getting a move to Real Madrid by reducing his financial demands.
Madrid’s interest in the player goes back to 27 December 2021 and he is now close to completing his move to the Santiago Bernabéu ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Tuchel confirms player’s decision to leave
Rüdiger’s contract with Chelsea expires this summer and the German international will not renew his current deal, according to the club’s manager Thomas Tuchel. “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 at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don’t take it personally. It is his decision.” Tuchel said.
The Athletic reported that the 29-year-old has turned down a €230,000-a-week renewal offer from Chelsea, which would have made him the highest-paid centre-back in the club’s history.
According to El Chiringuito and later confirmed by AS, Real Madrid’s medical staff will travel to London in the coming days to carry out a medical with Rüdiger. He suffered one long-term injury in his career to date, rupturing his cruciate ligament in the 2015/16 campaign when he was a Roma player.
This caused him to miss Euro 2016 with Germany. The main objective of the medical is to clarify that there is no risk of further damage in that area.
Signing until 2026
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Rüdiger will join Madrid until June 2026. His move will, however, not be made official before the end of the season.
Despite interest from other European clubs, including PSG and Juventus, it’s Madrid who have reached a verbal agreement with the centre-back.