Antonio Rudiger has claimed he felt “misled” ahead of his decision to leave Chelsea and join Real Madrid earlier this year.
The Germany international, 29, penned a four-year contract in the Spanish capital after joining the club as a free agent from the Blues. The West London club were unable to agree a new contract with Rudiger and Thomas Tuchel announced his departure in April – joining Andreas Christensen in leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of his contract.
The former Stuttgart and Roma defender was instrumental in Chelsea's Champions League success at the end of the 2020/21 season. He enjoyed a resurgence in form under Blues boss Tuchel after being excluded from the team under the German’s predecessor, Frank Lampard.
Despite being a mainstay in the Blues defence under Tuchel, he was unable to agree terms on a new deal and has moved to Real Madrid, where he will earn a reported wage of €400,000 (£340,000) per week.
The central defender was a key figure in Chelsea’s successes in recent seasons and ironically it was his final European game for the club, against his future team Los Blancos, which proved decisive. He has explained how he felt that his brother had misled him over his future during that tie – which Madrid edged in extra time.
Speaking to German media outlet Sport1 : "There were only two options for me: either I stay at Chelsea or I go to Real Madrid. Germany was not a serious option for me. At the end of April, my options became really concrete. But before everything was clear, my brother misled me a bit.
Have Your Say! How big a loss has Rudiger leaving been to Chelsea ? Tell us what you think here.
"Chelsea played against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter finals and after the first leg loss, he suddenly said to me: ‘Toni, I don't know if this will still work! In the second leg you have to prove everything to keep going.’ Those words, that I might not move, hurt me but that motivated me"
Rudiger joined Chelsea from Roma in the summer of 2017 and enjoyed five successful seasons at Stamford Bridge, making 203 appearances for the club. He won five trophies during his time in England - the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He also lost three FA Cup and two EFL Cups finals.
