Real Madrid are expected to go after a center back in the summer 2022 transfer window, and Chelsea standout Antonio Rudiger appears to be their favorite target. The key reason is that he would be free. Technically, he would not be free, seeing as how he wants a major raise. But since he would cost Los Blancos nothing in terms of a transfer fee, they would seemingly be more than willing to meet his wage demands.
Although Rudiger is on an expiring contract and has yet to put pen to paper with Chelsea and agree on a new deal, the Blues and the German center back remain in negotiations.
And recently, Rudiger seemed to drop a hint that he would prefer to stay in London.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 28-year-old had this to say about his current situation with the reigning Champions League winners:
"“My future? The most important thing is that I feel happy at Chelsea. I think if people look at it, they see I’m happy. About contract situation, I talk with the club. This is for nobody’s ears”.“There was a talk between Marina and my agent”."
Antonio Rudiger wants Chelsea to want him
The fact that negotiations have taken this long may be of concern to Chelsea fans, as Rudiger would be free to sign with Real Madrid – or any other team – in January. Chelsea could be looking to spend that money on a different center back, perhaps someone younger, given their main core is not as young. After all, they had interest in a potential Madrid target, Jules Kounde of Sevilla.
Rudiger is happy at Chelsea, though. By his own words. He wants to be paid a wage he feels fairly sums up his abilities, and that’s the crux of the issue here. We will see how serious the Blues are about keeping Rudiger, because, at the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to.
I don’t know many players who would NOT want to play for Real Madrid. So Rudiger would surely be fine with joining Los Blancos if Chelsea do not meet his asking price. But it seems like his preference is genuinely to remain with his current club. It hurts to say it, but he was on the team that knocked Los Blancos out of the Champions League semifinals last season, en route to winning the whole damn thing.
The quote seems to indicate a preference to remain with the Premier League giants, but it also coyly leaves open the possibility that Rudiger is fine walking away from the club he loves if they don’t love him back. Money talks. But moreso than the money itself, the wage represents a level of respect in the club hierarchy and in football as a whole among players at the position.
Chelsea have the first opportunity to show Rudiger respect in the form of the wage he wants. If they don’t meet it, it seems like he will be all ears for Real Madrid. That’s what it all comes down to. Sometimes, you have to respect how straightforward football can be. Teams think about the bottom line, and players, despite having more sentimentality, have to as well. Because Rudiger can want Chelsea, but if they don’t offer him what he feels is his worth, then do they really want him back?