Barcelona confirm talks with agent of top Real Madrid target

Two great La Liga rivals are set to go head-to-head for the services of Antonio Rudiger.

Barcelona have held talks with the agent of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, according to the club’s director of football Mateu Alemany.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel announced at the weekend that Rudiger intends to leave the club. The German’s contract expires in the summer, making him available as a free agent. Several sides are interested. These include Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Rudiger’s agent was even spotted meeting Barcelona officials last month.

Mateu Alemany: "Tuvimos un reunión con el representante de Rüdiger pero no hablamos de su situación". #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/L5WcfDoDHU

— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) April 24, 2022

‘We didn’t talk about that situation’

But while confirming a meeting took place, Alemany has claimed they did not speak about the defender’s situation.

“We had a meeting with his agent but we didn’t talk about that situation,” he told Movistar+.

“Agents represent more than one player and that could lead to confusion. Also, it’s not our custom to talk about contracted players so we can’t help.”

Alemany added: “Now is not the time to think about [next season]. We work in all positions and, at the end of the whole season, we will talk to the coach and make decisions based on the market.”

According to the latest reports, Rudiger has verbally agreed to a four-year deal with Barcelona’s La Liga rivals Real Madrid.

Xavi Hernandez’s side are also reportedly interested in fellow Chelsea defenders Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.