Rudiger Told Me He Will Leave Chelsea – Tuchel

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has told manager Thomas Tuchel he will leave the club this summer after failing to agree a new deal.

Rudiger, 29, was offered a new contract worth more than £200,000 a week, which would have made him the best-paid defender in the club’s history.

BBC Sport understands the signing-on and agent’s fees demanded by Rudiger’s camp have proved too steep for Chelsea.

“He informed me some days ago in a personal talk,” Tuchel told Sky Sports.

Tuchel had hoped to keep Rudiger at Chelsea but the Germany international has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

“We gave everything and now we enter a situation where we can’t fight any more because of the sanctions and now Toni will leave,” Tuchel added, referring to the restrictions placed on the club while a new owner is sought.

“Our hands are tied. I don’t know what would have been the outcome [without the sanctions]. That’s his decision. It’s not a nice one for us but we don’t take it personally.

“He is a key figure and will stay a key figure for us. We will miss him a lot. He is a guy who gives people courage, who people are a bit afraid of. He plays 55 games a season for 90 minutes at an outstanding level.

“He was the top defender in the past one and a half years with me and I have nothing but respect for him.”