April 25, (THEWILL) –Â After their most recent round of talks, La Liga giants, Real Madrid, believe they are the favourites to capture Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea.
The German defender, who turned 29 in March, has become one of the most sought-after free agents this summer.
Due to concerns with his contract and Chelsea’s hierarchy, it looked increasingly apparent that Rudiger would leave Stamford Bridge last year.
Thomas Tuchel, who has maintained since taking over that he wants Rudiger to sign a new long-term contract, confirmed Rudiger’s departure in the aftermath of Sunday’s 1-0 win against West Ham.
Due to Chelsea’s continuing ownership talks, Rudiger and his representatives were willing to postpone their decision, but once it was revealed that current director, Marina Granovskaia, would likely continue in west London, it was acknowledged that a deal would not be reached.
Granovskaia has never agreed with Rudiger or his agents and has never considered offering him the kind of arrangement he wants. Indeed, it was her disrespectful offers that triggered the series of circumstances that led to his impending departure.
Since the turn of the year, Rudiger has been in talks with a number of teams, including Barcelona, PSG, and Juventus, but Real Madrid believe they have positioned themselves at the top of the queue.
A deal is currently in the works, and as a free agent, Rudiger can sign a pre-contract agreement with Real or any other club he wants, with the exception of those in the Premier League, who must wait until the end of the season.
Manchester United are still interested in acquiring Rudiger, but his lack of Champions League experience at Old Trafford, despite his apparent readiness to play for new boss Erik ten Hag, could be a factor.
Barcelona, who have already signed Andres Christensen on a pre-contract agreement and are hoping to sign Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, are still in the running for Rudiger, while PSG and Juventus have made offers, with the former likely to offer the best financial package and the latter seen as a intriguing option.
Real, on the other hand, has left recent conversations believing they are close to completing a deal, and sources have indicated a willingness to complete the transaction soon.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
