Rudiger agent spotted in Barcelona for transfer talks

Robin Bairner

31 Mar 2022 05:41 CDT
3 min read

Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger has been linked to Real Madrid and PSG — © ProShots

Antonio Rudiger’s future increasingly seems to lie away from Chelsea, with the agent of the centre-back having been spotted in Barcelona.

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Rudiger is out of contract with Chelsea at the end of June, and with the complicated situation at Stamford Bridge, it appears that there is no prospect of him remaining at the club.

Even before Roman Abramovich’s assets were frozen because of his alleged links to Vladimir Putin, the tendency appeared to be that the Germany international would seek a new challenge.

That certainly appears to be the case at present, and with Sahr Senesie filmed at a Barcelona hotel, these rumours will only increase.

Indeed, Sky Sport’s Florian Plettenberg has filmed Rudiger in Barcelona and reports that he met with senior figures from the Camp Nou club – including Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff - for three hours on Wednesday night.

🚨Exclusive #Rüdiger: Secret negotiations in Barcelona! On Wednesday night Alemany, Cruyff & ARs agent Senesie met in the hotel „The Barcelona Edition“. The appointment went three hours. Barca wants Rüdiger as a free agent! @SkySports @Sky_Marc #CFC pic.twitter.com/6VNAhvSm62
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 31, 2022

Can Barca afford Rudiger?

Barcelona have been crippled with debt in recent months, but they have still managed to work their accounts so that they have been able to make key signings.

In January, for instance, they added Ferran Torres to their ranks from Manchester City as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on loan from Arsenal. Adama Traore also joined up from Wolves, though the La Masia graduate appears set to return to the Premier League club at the end of the season.

After strengthening their attacking options, they have already effectively confirmed the signing for Andreas Christensen from Chelsea in their defence as well as Franck Kessie from Milan to bolster their options in midfield.

Rudiger, meanwhile, is likely to prove a harder player to pin down as there are numerous clubs all over Europe seeking his signature.

Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs who have been linked with a big move for the 29-year-old, who had been out of favour with the Blues until Thomas Tuchel’s appointment little over a year ago.

Rudiger’s stock has exploded since then and Barcelona are seeking to take advantage over the uncertainty of Chelsea’s future to sign him.