Sports
Rudiger gives real reason for dumping Chelsea
<h4><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Antonio Rudiger, a Chelsea defender, has revealed the true reasons for his choice to join Real Madrid.</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">After a period of quiet from Chelsea about a new contract offer, the Germany international defender decided to quit the club.</span></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-25427" src="https://thedailypage.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/images-2022-05-20T163640.449_resize_42-300x180.jpg" alt="Rudiger gives real reason for dumping Chelsea" width="300" height="180" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rudiger has signed a four-year contract with the Spanish club and will become a free agent at the end of the season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thomas Tuchel, his compatriot and Chelsea manager, has expressed an interest in keeping him at the club, with the Blues reportedly offering to make the 29-year-old the highest-paid defender in the club&#8217;s history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">However, the midfielder claims that the West London club took too long to start talks about a new contract, and that months of silence prompted him to leave Stamford Bridge after five years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rudiger stated in the Players&#8217; Tribune, &#8220;Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get tricky last fall.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">&#8220;Business is business, but the scenario becomes tricky when you don&#8217;t hear from the club from August to January.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">&#8220;There was a long period of nothing after the first offer. You know, we&#8217;re not robots. With so much uncertainty about your future, you can&#8217;t wait months.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">&#8220;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.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">On his imminent exit, Rudiger added that Chelsea will always be in his heart. London will always be his home. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: var(--c-contrast-800);">&#8220;I came here alone, and now I have a wife and two beautiful kids.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“I also have a new brother for life named Kova. 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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I leave this club with a heavy heart. It has meant everything to me. I will always be Chelsea. Thank you, Rudi.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When Thomas Tuchel&#8217;s team play their final Premier League encounter of the season on Sunday, the Germany international will seek to make his final impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chelsea has already guaranteed a position in the Premier League&#8217;s top four, but a win over Watford on Sunday would secure a third-place finish.</span></p>