According to ESPN, Real Madrid has reached a preliminary agreement with Antonio Rudiger to bring the Chelsea centre-back to the Bernabeu on a free transfer this summer.
The club and Rudiger’s advisors are still hammering out the details of the deal, but insiders say Rudiger, 29, is on course to sign a four-year contract with Madrid.
Last week, ESPN reported that Madrid was considering signing Rudiger after being impressed by his efforts in their Champions League quarterfinal match against Chelsea. The club had previously ruled out a deal earlier in the season.
Chelsea’s second goal came in a dramatic 3-2 win at the Bernabeu on April 12 that saw the Premier League club ousted 5-4 on aggregate after extra time.
After the second leg, Madrid began working on a deal for the defender, which may now be completed “in record time,” according to sources.
Negotiations have gone quickly, according to sources, because Rudiger is eager to join Madrid and has lowered his wage demands significantly.
Madrid had previously ruled out the signing because they did not want to get involved in a costly bidding war for Rudiger with other big teams earlier this season.
In recent weeks, the situation has changed, and Madrid has opted to move after Carlo Ancelotti’s team struggled to construct a trustworthy back four in crucial games at this stage of the season.
Rudiger’s arrival would provide the team with a top-level defender who would arrive without a transfer fee, similar to the addition of David Alaba from Bayern Munich last summer.
It would also allow Ancelotti to play Alaba at justify-back, with Rudiger and Eder Militao at centre-back, if he so desired.
On Saturday, ESPN reported that Rudiger had turned down Chelsea’s latest contract renewal offer of nearly £200,000 per week, and coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed the defender’s departure on Sunday.
Tuchel explained, “The situation is that he wants to leave the club.” “In a private conversation, he informed me of this.” We gave it our all — me and the club — but we couldn’t go on.
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“We would at least be able to continue fighting if the sanctions were lifted, but our hands are shackled.” We don’t consider it as a personal attack. It’s entirely up to him.”
