Rudiger is set to sign a four-year contract with Real Madrid.
The German defender has decided to not renew his contract with the Blues and will leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.
The Blues were banned from signing new players or making contract negotiations which in turn was key in the club’s inability to keep Rudiger.
But after Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup final, the German defender explained that sanctions were not the reason behind his move.
“There was a chance [of staying] but sanctions are not the problem,” Rudiger told reporters after the game at Wembley. “I don’t want to go too deep in things.
“At the end of the day it’s not only about one side, it’s both sides. Chelsea have been great to me, I have been great to Chelsea.
“As always, I am very, very thankful… me, my family. I became a man here. My kids were born here and everything. London and especially Chelsea will always be special to me.
“It’s been five years as normal with ups and downs, but with a lot of positive things.
“That’s why I’m even more frustrated because I wanted to have a different ending.”
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