Rudiger reveals Chelsea snub

Former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger was at peak physical condition and form when he left Stamford Bridge after leading the Blues to two consecutive domestic cup finals in the 2021/22 season under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel.

However, Blues fans were disheartened when the German international chose to leave for the Santiago Bernabeu. Now, with the West London side facing issues in defence, fans are looking back at what could have been if the Premier League giants chose to hand Antonio Rudiger what he wanted.

In a recent interview Rudiger lifted the lid on why he swapped Chelsea for Real Madrid, and it wasn’t just about the allure of the Spanish giants.

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Speaking candidly, the German center-back revealed that prolonged contract delays at Stamford Bridge played a major role in his decision to leave.

“There was a massive period of no talks,” Rudiger admitted. “I was still playing at my best, but deep down, I knew the Champions League win could be my ticket to Real Madrid.”

With Chelsea dragging their feet, Rudiger couldn’t resist when Real Madrid, a club that “doesn’t come knocking often,” came calling. While he acknowledged the impact of sanctions, Rudiger left with no hard feelings towards Chelsea, expressing only gratitude for his time in London.

The takeaway? For Rudiger, when the biggest club in the world came calling, hesitation wasn’t an option—especially when Chelsea left the door open.