Chelsea will always be in my heart: Antonio Rudiger confirms leaving the club at the end of season
India Today
Antonio Rudiger won the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time in London.
Antonio Rudiger has revealed that lack of communication over a new deal resulted in him leaving Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The 29-year-old centre-back added that he holds no grudges against the club.
Earlier in April, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said that Rudiger would part ways when his contract expires. The German footballer is likely to join LaLiga champions Real Madrid on a four-year deal.
According to the sanctions imposed by the British government on Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich, who is a Russian, following the invasion of Ukraine, the club cannot sign new players or renew existing contracts.
"My contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall," Rudiger wrote in The Players' Tribune on Friday. "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.
"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."
