Chelsea
defender Antonio Rudiger has revealed he was "close" to joining Paris
Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window and also spoke to Tottenham boss
Jose Mourinho about a move to Spurs.
Having been a first-team regular during Frank Lampard's first season in
charge at Stamford Bridge, Rudiger found himself out of favour to begin the
current campaign, making just one appearance in Chelsea's first 15 Premier
League games.
There was intense speculation that the Germany international would depart
before the summer transfer window closed in October, but he remained and
fought his way back into the starting XI before Lampard was sacked in
January, and has impressed since Thomas Tuchel's appointment.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Champions League round of 16 second leg against
Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Rudiger has now revealed there were two clubs
that he could have joined - PSG, who Tuchel was in charge of at the time,
and Tottenham.
"I was close (to leaving)," Rudiger said. "There were really like two teams,
maybe one team I was considering, that was PSG to be honest.
"There was (a) call also with Mourinho, but this is something at the end of
the day that didn't happen, and with Tuchel also, (but it) didn't happen.
"I was upset of course because I knew my situation and wouldn't play that
often."
Rudiger was on the bench for Chelsea's opening game of the season at
Brighton, but then found himself left out of Lampard's matchday squad for
four consecutive games, something he admits took him by surprise.
Shortly after Lampard's dismissal in January, Rudiger dismissed suggestions
that he had played a role in the dismissal, with reports having claimed that
he had encouraged the Chelsea hierarchy to change the head coach.
"I was shocked, shocked is the wrong word, not really shocked. Some things I
saw coming, obviously, but then I was not in the squad I didn't see coming.
I took it on the chin," Rudiger said.
"Then I had (a) talk with the ex-coach, Lampard, then I was back on the
bench, then back in the team. I worked my way back and the last games of his
reign I was on the pitch.
"Now things are going well for me and I'm very happy about it, but I always
felt well in the club. They treated me nice, especially upstairs from the
board, nobody told me you should leave, not even Frank Lampard. The
transfer, loans I wanted didn't happen, but nobody told me I should leave."
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