Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is reportedly not interested in a move to Manchester United in the summer.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, outgoing Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has no interest in joining Manchester United. The German international’s deal with the west London club expires in the summer, and the Blues have been unable to offer him an extension due to the sanctions imposed on their owner Roman Abramovich.
Rudiger joined Chelsea in a €35 million deal from AS Roma in 2017 and has since grown into one of their most important players. The German centre-back has made 196 appearances for Chelsea in the last five seasons and has also scored 12 times and assisted seven goals across competitions.
The 29-year-old has formed a solid defensive partnership with Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen that helped Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League in 2021. Rudiger has also helped the club win the UEFA Europa League, the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during his time with them.
Rudiger had turned down early advancements from Chelsea over a new deal, and now, with sanctions imposed on the club, he is set to join a new club this summer. The likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have been linked with the Chelsea defender, but it seems the Red Devils will have to drop out of the race.
As per the report, the 29-year-old’s representatives have already held talks with Manchester United, but there seems to be no way forward. Rudiger is eager to continue playing Champions League football, and the Red Devils are in danger of missing out on the competition next season.
The Chelsea defender, thus, is hesitant about a possible move to Manchester United and is exploring other options now. It leaves the Red Devils, who are desperate for a major summer overhaul, to look for other possible signings.
Also Read: Chelsea and Abramovich in limbo: What do the UK government sanctions mean for the club?
Ahead of the impending arrival of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United are eager to provide the Dutch tactician with a competitive squad that can challenge for silverware in the coming seasons. Centre-back is one area which the Manchester United are looking to improve due to Harry Maguire’s patchy form. But with Rudiger unlikely to join them after leaving Chelsea, it will be interesting to see who arrives at Old Trafford in the summer.