Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has been told that he needs to stay at Stamford Bridge because “everyone else hates him.”
That’s according to former Blues player Frank Leboeuf, who doesn’t want to see Rudiger leave the club at the end of the campaign after watching him enjoy an incredible turnaround in form.
Exiled under Frank Lampard, Rudiger has revived his Chelsea career – establishing himself as one of the best central defenders in the Premier League under Thomas Tuchel.
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But, the player’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and his remarkable rise in form has led a number of teams to circle and monitor the situation.
Bayern Munich are reported to be the main contenders for his signature – though it remains unclear if they are willing to meet his wage demands.
Rudiger did little to quash the speculation linking him with a move to the Allianz Arena when he admitted he was “honoured” to be mentioned in the same breath as Bayern.
“Of course [Bayern’s interest] honours me and proves that I’ve been doing things right,” he told reporters. “But I don’t let myself be distracted.
“I have an obligation to my club to perform well. I have to prove myself every game and not let myself be distracted by rumours. “I make my decisions for myself. They don’t depend on anyone.”
Leboeuf, meanwhile, is desperate for the Germany international to ignore the interest and stay put.
Speaking to Ladbrokes for its 5-A-Side bet on Brentford vs Chelsea, Leboeuf said: “I’m very fond of Rudiger; that guy amazed me because he wasn’t playing anymore and Tuchel believed in him and put him back where Zouma was when everything was good about him and the defence was working well.
“Tuchel put him in and Rudiger became another player.
“Two years ago when I saw him playing I said, ‘He cannot play for Chelsea’ and now look, he’s the main man, everyone hates him.”
“He’s a bit like Diego Costa when he was playing for Chelsea.
“He was hated by the rest of the world and that’s the same now for Rudiger because the guy is amazing in defence, he’s a nasty player but when he plays for your club you love it.
“He does well for Chelsea and he does well for Chelsea so I don’t want to see him leave when his contract expires this season.”
