Real Madrid have reportedly reached a verbal agreement over a lucrative four-year contract with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger ahead of a summer move.
According to Goal.com’s Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea defensive mainstay Antonio Rudiger has verbally agreed a four-year contract with La Liga giants Real Madrid as a Bosman move in the summer edges closer.
Rudiger is currently in his fifth season at Chelsea, having first arrived from AS Roma in 2017. The 29-year-old defender has grown into a vital part of the first-team setup at Stamford Bridge, especially since last year when Thomas Tuchel took over the reins of the club from Frank Lampard.
Rudiger has been in sensational form for Chelsea, playing a key role in the success they achieved over the past 15 months. The German international has attained cult hero status among his supporters for his aggressive, no-nonsense performances and leadership on and off the field.
However, Rudiger’s time at Stamford Bridge will end this summer. With his contract running out, speculations over his exit have been doing the rounds for months together now. Having failed to negotiate a new deal, the 29-year-old has decided to move on, with Tuchel confirming the same on Sunday.
Real Madrid have reached verbal agreement with Antonio Rüdiger. Contract not signed yet – but Real Madrid are now closing on Rüdiger deal on a free: here we go soon! ⚪️? #RealMadrid
It’s gonna be a long-term deal. Final details to be discussed soon, before signing the contract. pic.twitter.com/Jn0uvP0UQa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 25, 2022
Rudiger had been attracting interest from a plethora of elite clubs from across Europe, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Manchester United.
However, Real Madrid seemed to have had the upper hand in the race to land Rudiger for quite some time. And as per the latest reports, a move is all but confirmed. The update from GOAL states that the Chelsea defender has reached a verbal agreement over a lucrative four-year contract to sign for Real Madrid.
While there is no mention of the exact wages that Rudiger will pocket, it is expected to be significantly higher than the £200,000 per week deal that Chelsea were offering him.
Real Madrid needed reinforcements in defence after losing both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos last summer. David Alaba has come in and done a stellar job this season, alongside Eder Militao. But beyond them, there is a distinct lack of quality in the centre-back department. Rudiger’s imminent signing, to that end, will help address the issue for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed the news of a verbal agreement between Rudiger and Real Madrid, with the move as good as done. Having snapped up Alaba on a Bosman deal last summer, Real Madrid have now seemingly pulled off the same trick with Chelsea’s Rudiger as well.
