Chelsea defensive mainstay Antonio Rudiger could be headed to Juventus in the summer after reportedly agreeing a contract until the summer of 2026.
According to a big report from Gazzetta della Sport, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has seemingly chosen his next destination as his contract at Stamford Bridge approaches its expiry date. The German international has agreed a four-year contract until the summer of 2026 with Serie A giants Juventus.
Rudiger has been with Chelsea since 2017 when he arrived from AS Roma. After a stop-start spell at the club, the 29-year-old has grown into a permanent fixture at the heart of the Blues defence, especially once Thomas Tuchel took over the reins at the club. The defender has played a key role in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup success over the past eighteen months.
A valuable member of the first-team setup at Chelsea, Rudiger is in the final few months of his contract. Set to become a free agent at the end of the season, the former Roma ace is attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Real Madrid and PSG, in particular, have been linked heavily with a move for the German international.
However, it seems like Juventus are now poised to complete the signing of Rudiger on a Bosman deal once his Chelsea contract runs down. The Bianconeri are desperate for defensive reinforcements heading into the summer as legendary defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are in the final phase of their careers.
La prima pagina della #Gazzetta oggi:
? RUDIGER, SÌSSIGNORATutte le #notizie ?https://t.co/lRccgZpsxe pic.twitter.com/MwyEITSae7
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) March 19, 2022
Chiellini has struggled with injury problems this year, indicating that it is time for Massimiliano Allegri to phase out the defender from the first-team setup. They will need a top-quality defender with excellent leadership skills and all-round abilities to replace the Italian adequately.
Rudiger, to that end, looks like the ideal fit for the Bianconeri. Having started talks with the German defender recently, Juventus have seemingly struck an agreement with him over a Bosman transfer in the summer. While the report does not divulge full details of the contract agreed, it is said to be a deal that runs for four years until 2026.
Juventus have been going through financial troubles and have been trying to get rid of some of their highest-earning players to ease the burden. Rudiger’s contract demands were reportedly significant, and for him to have agreed to join Juventus, the Serie A giants would ostensibly have matched those demands.
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It could mean that Juventus offload players like Adrien Rabiot and Paulo Dybala, among others, to make room for Rudiger in the squad.
