Antonio Rudiger has explained his decision to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid, attributing it to delayed contract negotiations with the Premier League side.
The German defender said that Real Madrid’s interest was a rare opportunity, making the decision to join the La Liga giants difficult to resist.
Speaking on *The Inside Scoop*, Rudiger shared that he was at the peak of his career and sensed that a move to Real Madrid was possible.
“There was a long period without contract talks. Sometimes you think about avoiding injury, but I kept playing my best,” Rudiger explained. “Winning the Champions League felt like my ticket to the biggest club in the world—Real Madrid doesn’t come knocking often.”
In a personal piece for The Players’ Tribune, Rudiger also noted that stalled contract talks significantly influenced his departure, though he harbored no ill feelings toward Chelsea, acknowledging that the sanctions on the club also played a role.
