Antonio Rudiger claims Chelsea left him waiting for months for a fresh contract offer after confirming he will walk away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
The centre back is set to join Real Madrid as a free agent – but has opened up for the first time on the negotiations that led to his decision to go.
Chelsea were prepared to make Rudiger the highest paid defender in the club’s history – offering him a deal worth £230,000-a-week.
Sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich complicated talks – but Rudiger claims Chelsea waited too long to act.
“Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall,” he said. “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.”
Chelsea are adamant a deal could have been reached before the sanctions placed on Abramovich prevented them from offering new contracts or signing players.
Rudiger added on the Players’ Tribune: “I leave this club with a heavy heart. It has meant everything to me. Even this season, with all the complications, has been enjoyable. Football is football. We are blessed to play a game for a living that we would play for free anyway.
“Chelsea will always be in my heart. London will always be my home. I came here alone, and now I have a wife and two beautiful kids.
“I also have a new brother for life named Kova (Mateo Kovaci). 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.”
