‘He doesn’t love the club’ – Paul Merson makes huge accusation against key player loved by Thomas Tuchel

Pundit Paul Merson has claimed that Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger doesn’t love the club.

Rudiger is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the season.

While it has been claimed that Rudiger is leaving mainly because of the sanctions placed on Chelsea, Paul Merson is of the opinion that Rudiger has long had this in mind, especially after what happened under Frank Lampard.

“Antonio Rudiger is the one player Chelsea couldn’t afford to lose, but he clearly didn’t love the club enough to stay,” Merson told the Daily Star.

“He is risking the wrath of the fans now because he is turning down a lot of money and leaving them in the lurch, but let’s be honest: it’s been on the cards for a long, long time.

“I called this one months ago. I don’t think Rudiger ever had any intention of signing; not after he was frozen out by Frank Lampard.

“I know plenty has changed since then. Thomas Tuchel came in, brought him back into the team, and they won the Champions League.”

“But I think he had already made his mind up. His contract was already running down and other clubs would already have been expressing an interest,” Merson went on.

“You don’t wait all that time, refusing to sign, losing all that money you would have got by signing on improved terms, just to turn around and stay. It’s serious money he has turned down.

“He would have been the most well-paid defender in the club’s history. But he doesn’t love the club, does he? Or he’d have stayed.

“And he’s an unbelievable defender. Thiago Silva helps him, but I think he helps Thiago Silva as well. They are so good together in a three.

“It will be interesting to see how the fans are going to be now when he plays at Stamford Bridge. I don’t see them being too happy with him.”