EPL: Antonio Rudiger asked to leave Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel has said that Chelsea no longer hold on to Antonio Rudiger, and therefore asked him to leave the club.

There were media reports that Rudiger – whose contract expires at the end of the season – had turned down the offer of a new deal and had decided to leave for pastures new.

Tuchel has now revealed those reports were correct. Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs said to have an interest in the centre-back.

Tuchel told Sky Sports: “The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk.

“We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore because of the sanctions. Without the sanctions, we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don’t take it personally. It is his decision.

“He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season. But it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot.

“He gives courage in the dressing room. The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He [has been] a top defender in the last one and a half years for me. We then need to find another solution.”