Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has yet to make a decision over his future despite a reported meeting between his agent and Barcelona representatives, according to The Telegraph.
Rudiger’s agent and half-brother, Sahr Senesie, was spotted meeting with Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany and sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff in a bar at a five-star hotel in Catalan on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old is obviously free to negotiate with overseas clubs after entering the final six months of his contract with Chelsea.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus are reportedly in the race to sign the centre-back as well.
Interestingly, despite attracting interest from these elite clubs, Rudiger has yet to agree any deal, The Telegraph claims.
The report adds that the Germany international wants a deal worth £200,000-a-week plus a big signing-on fee, which Chelsea had not agreed to before the talks came to a halt due to the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich.
Rudiger himself has previously hinted at his desire to stay at Chelsea.
The Blues, however, were understandably reluctant to offer the defender a deal that would make him the best-paid defender in the club’s history as well as his reported big signing-on fee demands.
Barcelona are also in pursuit of two other soon-to-be out-of-contract Chelsea defenders; Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Telegraph mentioned that it is widely accepted that Christensen will join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season, but Azpilicueta’s case is rather complicated.
The Spain international’s one-year extension clause has automatically triggered after reaching a number of appearances for Chelsea, but Barcelona are reportedly still willing to offer him a two-year deal with an option of another year.
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