Antonio Rudiger has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea this summer when his contract at Stamford Bridge comes to an end.
The Champions League winner is being linked with a number of Europe’s elite clubs, particularly Real Madrid, and he has now taken the time to share his thoughts with the Chelsea fans.
“Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall,” Rudiger wrote in the Players’ Tribune.
“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.
“We’re not robots, you know? You cannot wait for months with so much uncertainty about your future.”
Rudiger on Chelsea’s sanctions
Rudiger continued, addressing the sanctions that were placed on Chelsea as a result of Roman Abramovich‘s relationship with Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Obviously, no one saw the sanctions coming, but, in the end, other big clubs were showing interest and I had to make a decision,” Rudiger explained.
“I will leave it at that because, business aside, I have nothing bad to say about this club.
“Chelsea will always be in my heart. London will always be my home.
“I came here alone, and now I have a wife and two beautiful kids. I also have a new brother for life named Kova [Mateo Kovacic].
“I have an FA Cup, a Europa League and a Champions League medal. And of course, I have hundreds of memories that will stay with me forever.”
