Rudiger: Chelsea sanctions were not the reason for my desire to leave

Antonio Rudiger stated that the UK government's penalties against

were not the driving force behind his intention to quit the club. 

Rudiger has been an important player for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, but he is yet to sign a new deal. 

As a result, the ex-Roma center-back will depart on a free transfer at the conclusion of the season, with Santiago Bernabeu his most likely venue. 

Since joining Chelsea in 2017, Rudiger has played in four

finals, winning one, and winning the

. His achievements include the UEFA Super Cup, Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Tuchel argued that the sanctions imposed on Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovic in the aftermath of Russia's attack on Ukraine means the London Blues were incapable to meet Rudiger's financial criteria upon confirming his departure in April. 

Rudiger, on the other hand, said that the sanctions had no bearing on his choice. 

"I don’t want to go too deep into things," he told reporters at Wembley on Saturday, after Chelsea lost 6-5 on penalties to Liverpool in the FA Cup final, their third consecutive defeat in the competition's showcase.

"There was a chance but sanctions were not the problem.

"It’s been five years with ups and downs as normal. There were a lot of positive things, but that's why I'm even more frustrated because I wanted to have a different ending.

"It's about both sides. Chelsea have been great to me and I have been great for Chelsea. I am very, very thankful, both me and my family.

"I became a man here. My kids were born here and everything. London, and especially Chelsea, will always be special to me."

After their penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final in February, Chelsea became the first team since Newcastle United (1974, 1998, and 1999) to lose three back to back FA Cup final appearances, as well as the first team since Middlesbrough in 1996-97 to lose both of England's domestic cup finals in the same season.

"I think it was a good game just like the EFL Cup final. We had chances, they had chances," reflected Rudiger.

"But at the end of the day we know that penalties are always a lottery and we lost.

"It's about winning, it's not about next season. The game was about today and it was there to take. Unfortunately we didn't win.

"It's always difficult to say whether we are lucky or unlucky. For myself it's the third time [I have lost an FA Cup final] so you can't always say unlucky, unlucky, unlucky."

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