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Tag: Rudiger

  • I considered only two options before Chelsea exit – Rudiger

    I considered only two options before Chelsea exit – Rudiger

    Real Madrid defender Toni Rudiger admits he had several options before leaving Chelsea this summer.

    Rudiger joined Real Madrid in a Bosman transfer at the end of last season.

    He recalled to AS: “Of course, I was approached by many teams, but I considered only two options – Chelsea and Real Madrid.

    “I spent five years in London and had a certain status. I could stay there or move to Real Madrid. Barcelona were also interested in my services.

    “But for me it was impossible. I have already said that Real Madrid was a dream for me, this team seemed unattainable to me.”

  • Joining Real Madrid not a dream come true – Rudiger

    Joining Real Madrid not a dream come true – Rudiger

    Real Madrid defender Toni Rudiger admits making the move to the Spanish was beyond his wildest dreams.

    Rudiger signed for Real in a Bosman deal this past summer after coming off contract at Chelsea.

    He said, “I can’t call it that (a dream come true), it’s a fantasy, something that was not within my reach.

    “It was always my dream to play in the Premier League, Real Madrid was a fantasy, something bigger that was not within my reach.

    “I realised that after I moved, it was when I couldn’t believe it, it was a brutal feeling. I never thought I would live something like this.”

    Of how quickly he has settled, Rudiger added: “Never has a team made it so easy for me.”

  • Rudiger reveals favourite name to be called in Madrid

    Antonio Rudiger has revealed he wants to be called ‘Rudi’ after joining the European Champions, Real Madrid.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the former Chelsea defender said he is focused to work and can be very funny off the pitch.

    “I’m a player with a strong character, but I think it’ s best to leave the rest to others and not to talk too much about yourself. I think it’s hard to improve your speed, but I’m lucky because it’s something I have thanks to my genetics and I’m really pleased about that, he said.

    “On the pitch, I’m focused exclusively on work, but off the pitch I’m funny and I like to laugh and make people have a good time. But most of all I can laugh at myself. Since Toni Kroos is already in the team, and I don’t like to be called Antonio, I’d like people to call me Rudi”.

  • Rüdiger joins Real Madrid from Chelsea

    Rüdiger joins Real Madrid from Chelsea

    Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger is joining Real Madrid from Chelsea, both clubs and the player confirmed on Thursday.

    “Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Antonio Rüdiger, who joins the club on a four-year deal,” the freshly-crowned UEFA Champions League winners from Spain said.

    Spanish champions Real Madid added that the official presentation would take place on June 20.

    “I’m proud to announce that I’ll be joining Real Madrid. I’m super excited for all the challenges ahead and can’t wait to play my first games for this huge club,” Rüdiger tweeted.

    Rüdiger, 29, arrives on a free transfer after not renewing his Chelsea contract following five years at the London club.

    During this period, he played 203 games and won the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League, the European Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the FA Cup.

    Chelsea said the 50-times capped centre-back played “a crucial role in all those triumphs at the heart of our defence”.

    The club described Rüdiger as “one of the most passionate characters to represent the club in recent memory” in their statement.

    “Chelsea Football Club thanks Toni for his contribution to our success over the last five years and wishes him well in his future career.”

  • Thomas Tuchel confirms Rudiger’s exit from Chelsea

    Thomas Tuchel confirms Rudiger’s exit from Chelsea

    Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has informed manager Thomas Tuchel he will leave the club this summer after failing to agree a new deal.

    Rudiger, 29, was offered a new contract worth more than £200,000 a week, which would have made him the best-paid defender in Chelsea’s history.

    BBC Sport understands the signing-on and agent’s fees have proven the stumbling block.

    “He informed me some days ago in a personal talk,” Tuchel told Sky Sports.

    Tuchel had hoped to keep Rudiger at Chelsea but the Germany international has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

    “We gave everything and now we enter a situation where we can’t fight any more because of the sanctions and now Toni will leave,” Tuchel added, referring to the restrictions placed on the club while a new owner is sought.

    “Our hands are tied. I don’t know what would have been the outcome [without the sanctions]. That’s his decision. It’s not a nice one for us but we don’t take it personally.

    “He is a key figure and will stay a key figure for us. We will miss him a lot. He is a guy who gives people courage, who people are a bit afraid of. He plays 55 games a season for 90 minutes at an outstanding level.

    “He was the top defender in the past one and a half years with me and I have nothing but respect for him.”

    Chelsea could also lose centre-back Andreas Christensen this summer.

    Like Rudiger, who joined the Blues for an initial £29m from Roma in 2017, the Denmark international’s contract is up at the end of the season and will be allowed to leave on a free transfer, with Barcelona agreeing a deal to sign the 26-year-old.

    Chelsea’s financial situation has been uncertain since owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last month before being sanctioned by the UK government.

    Three bidders are attempting to buy the club from the Russian billionaire for more than £2.5bn, with the hope that a preferred bidder can be selected this week.

    But it is understood the contract offer to Rudiger was made weeks before the advent of the sanctions, which put player contract deals on hold until the end of May when the government is expected to issue the club with a special licence.

  • Real Madrid renew offer to Chelsea defender Rudiger

    Real Madrid renew offer to Chelsea defender Rudiger

    La Liga giants Real Madrid are making an offer to Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.

    Madrid had been monitoring the 29-year-old for months, but they were put off by his high salary demands.

    However, Rudiger’s agent has lowered the demands of a deal, and he is now very much a transfer target for Real Madrid, says Marca.

    Carlo Ancelotti held a meeting with Florentino Perez last Friday to request reinforcements to a squad that has performed brilliantly all season, but has certain areas of improvement.

    One of the players that he has asked for is the Chelsea defender, whose contract ends on June 30 and could be the first player to leave in a potential exodus at Stamford Bridge this summer due to their financial troubles.

    Ancelotti believes that whilst his options in central defence are strong, they could be even better.

    Also, the arrival of Rudiger could see David Alaba shifted to left-back to cover for Ferland Mendy and Marcelo due to the pair’s injury record.

  • Mendy’s error: Rudiger could have made up for it – Ambrosini

    Mendy’s error: Rudiger could have made up for it – Ambrosini

    Former AC Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini insists Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy wasn’t solely to blame for Real Madrid’s third goal in Wednesday night’s 3-1 Champions League defeat.

    An under-hit pass from Mendy saw Benzema intercept and score his third goal into an empty net.

    “(Antonio) Rudiger was too sloppy,” insisted Ambrosini.

    “To me, he should have been tougher on the ball. He tried to win it with his left foot.

    “Mendy made the most serious error, but Rudiger could have made up for it.”

  • Barca coach Xavi waves away Rudiger transfer talk

    Barca coach Xavi waves away Rudiger transfer talk

    Xavi refused to be drawn on talk of FC Barcelona signing Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga showdown with Sevilla.

    Sahr Senesie, RÜdiger’s half-brother and agent, was this week pictured entering a hotel in Barcelona with Blaugrana director of football Mateu Alemany and technical director Jordi Cruyff.

    The Germany centre-back is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and has been free to talk to clubs from overseas since January.

    But Barca head coach Xavi is focused on masterminding a win at Camp Nou this weekend that would move his side above Sevilla into second place, rather than potential new recruits.

    He said during a press conference on Saturday: “I’m not going to talk about signings, we have a lot at stake.

    “It is true that Mateu, Jordi and the board are working for next season, but our [job] is to go for second place tomorrow.”

    Ousmane Dembele is in a similar situation to Rüdiger, with his Barca deal expiring at the conclusion of the campaign.

    Xavi praised the France winger’s professionalism amid uncertainty over his future and says only the 24-year-old can decide where he will be playing next season.

    He said: “I haven’t had a single complaint about Dembele at a professional level since I arrived. He’s a footballer of many levels, well worked.

    “I still think he can be the best in his position. It’s up to him, the renewal depends on him.”

    Meanwhile, the Barca coach is optimistic Gavi and Ronald Araujo, who are both under contract until the end of next season, will sign new deals.

    “The club cannot afford to lose Gavi and Araujo. They are very important to us and I show it with the minutes I give them. I am optimistic and I hope a solution is reached,” Xavi said.

    Barca are unbeaten in 12 matches and have won five consecutive games in the Spanish top-flight.

    The last of the wins was a 4-0 Clasico thrashing of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu before the international break.

    The Catalan giants are 12 points adrift of Los Blancos with a game in hand and Xavi has demanded they maintain their momentum at the expense of Sevilla.

    “The message is to continue, not to let our guard down, not to relax,” he said.

    “The Bernabeu was good, but the goals are to be as high as possible in the league and win the Europa League.”

    The coach added: “The break could have been good for us. It is a final sprint in which we have to grit our teeth.”

    Luuk de Jong will not face his parent club after testing positive for coronavirus, while Sergino Dest, Samuel Umtiti, Ansu Fati and Sergi Roberto are ruled out due to injury.

  • EPL: Rudiger rejects latest Chelsea contract offer

    EPL: Rudiger rejects latest Chelsea contract offer

    Chelsea defender Toni Rudiger has turned down a fresh contract offer.

    The Daily Mail says talks between Chelsea and the Blues’ key defender over a contract extension have resumed, with the European champions eager to ensure Rudiger stays beyond his current deal that expires in the summer.

    Rudiger, who currently earns in the region of £100,000-per-week, rejected the club’s original offer – believed to be in the region of £140,000-per-week.

    During the latest round of discussions, it is understood the club informally offered Rudiger a new deal worth closer to the £200,000-per-week mark.

    However, it is understood the improved offer still falls short of what is required to persuade the Germany international to commit his future to the Stamford Bridge club.

    The lines of communication between both parties are open with a view to finding a resolution, and Chelsea remain optimistic that they can strike a deal to keep their stalwart defender.

    But it appears likely that they will have to make an increased offer to Rudiger to ensure they keep a player who head coach Thomas Tuchel views crucial to his plans.

  • Rudiger won’t comment on Chelsea future until decision made

    Rudiger won’t comment on Chelsea future until decision made

    Germany defender, Antonio Rüdiger has said he will not talk about his club football future until a decision has been made.

    Rüdiger’s contract at Champions League winners, Chelsea, expires after the season and he is said to be sought by several European top clubs.

    The 28-year-old told Wednesday’s edition of the Sport Bild weekly that “you will hear nothing from me until the day of the final decision” to avoid further media speculation.

    He said he was fully focused on Chelsea, with everything else in the hands of his agent.

    Rudiger is yet to sign a new deal at Chelsea and is free to explore his options.

    Chelsea’s hopes of retaining Rudiger have been boosted after his hopes of a dream move to Real Madrid this summer were dealt a blow.