Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger’s representative Sahr Senesie held a meeting with Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany and his advisor Jordi Cruyff, according to Sky Germany.
Senesie, who is also Rudiger’s half-brother, reportedly met the Barcelona chiefs reportedly in a bar of a five-star hotel in Catalan on Wednesday evening.
Sky Germany claims the meeting lasted for almost three hours.
Rudiger, who is in the final three months of his contract with Chelsea, has been free to speak to overseas clubs since January, obviously.
Despite Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s insisting that they have already signed a new centre-back for the upcoming season, whom Sky Germany claims to be another Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, the Catalan outfit is reportedly eager to sign Rudiger as well.
Chelsea are now operating under a special licence, which does not allow them to offer new deals to these soon-to-be out-of-contract players, after the sanctioning of club owner Roman Abramovich.
The club is expected to be sold to a new owner by the end of April.
While it may be enough to save the club from entering administration amid financial restrictions, reaching an agreement over a new deal with Rudiger could prove difficult.
As Sky Germany’s report mentioned, Barcelona are not the only other top club in the race for the Germany international’s signature.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus; all reportedly want Rudiger as well, while Bayern Munich are said to be out of the race.
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