Chelsea legend John Terry ‘does not understand’ how the club has allowed Antonio Rudiger to leave in the summer.
The defender’s current contract with the London club expires at the end of the season and has chosen to leave in search of a new challenge.
Confirming this on Sunday after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Ham, manager Thomas Tuchel said the German international had informed him of his desire to leave.
“The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk,” he said in an interview with Skysports.
“We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore because of the actions. 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 is a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years for me. We then need to find another solution.”
In a reply to Skysports’ update on Rudiger leaving in the summer, Terry questioned how the club allowed this to happen.
Rudiger has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid over a lucrative summer move.
The 29-year-old joined Chelsea from AS Roma in 2017, and has gone on to win five trophies during his time at the club, with a chance to add one or two more before the end of the season.
