‘I feel great here… but there are other people here who make the decisions’: Antonio Rudiger puts pressure on Chelsea by suggesting the club will decide his future with the defender’s contract expiring in the summer
- Antonio Rudiger’s contract at Chelsea runs up at the end of the current season
- The German defender is said to have turned down contract offers from the club
- Rudiger though has said he ‘feels great’ and the decision is up to the Blues
Antonio Rudiger has piled the pressure on Chelsea to resolve his future by suggesting they will decide whether or not he stays at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea defender’s current deal expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, who are both believed to have made approaches.
It’s previously been reported that Rudiger has turned down contract offers from the club as they fell below his desire value of around £200,00 a week.
Antonio Rudiger will be available for a free transfer at the end of the season as things stand
![The soon-to-be out of contract German defender has put pressure on the club to sign him to a new deal (Manager Thomas Tuchel pictured left with director Marina Granovskaia, right)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/15/00/54202265-0-image-a-20_1644885377528.jpg)
The soon-to-be out of contract German defender has put pressure on the club to sign him to a new deal (Manager Thomas Tuchel pictured left with director Marina Granovskaia, right)
As reported by the Athletic though, the German international has said he’s happy to stay at the club but the decision is up to Chelsea.
He told the Athletic: ‘I feel great here, I have always said it. I think the way I play you can see that I’m happy here. But there are also other people who have to make decisions.’
Rudiger is currently on a salary worth around £100,000-a-week and turned down a contract offer in August which would have taken it up to £140,000-a-week.
Though the club have since offered a deal closer to £200,000, no agreement has yet been made between the two parties.
Chelsea also find themselves in a similar situation with captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen who are both in the final months of their current deals.
![Rudiger has insisted he 'feels great' at the club, who won the Club World Cup at the weekend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/15/00/54202271-0-image-a-21_1644885409938.jpg)
Rudiger has insisted he ‘feels great’ at the club, who won the Club World Cup at the weekend
Both players have been linked with Barcelona, and it’s believed the Chelsea hierarchy have prioritised securing a new deal for Rudiger over fellow centre back Christensen.
Speaking after Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory, Rudiger hinted he would like to stay at the club by insisting he wants to win the Premier League.
‘Of course I want to win the Premier League,’ said Rudiger.
‘Does it keep getting better and better for me at Chelsea? Yes. We had never won this trophy (FIFA Club World Cup) in Chelsea’s history before.
‘I’m very delighted that we didn’t give up, that we did our thing. We tried everything and won.
‘I just want to help, I just want to be important and lead by example. This is the main thing.’
![Rudiger has been linked with moves to both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid this summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/15/00/54202379-0-image-a-22_1644885455376.jpg)
Rudiger has been linked with moves to both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid this summer
He added: ‘The Premier League is the toughest competition to be honest because Manchester City set a very high standard.
‘We have to get to a point where we can go on a long marathon.’
Chelsea are currently 16 points off Pep Guardiola’s side so it’s unlikely they will be able to mount a comeback for the title this season.
The Blues do still have a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool later this month and play Lille in the next round of the Champions League.
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