Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger reveals he spoke to Jose Mourinho about a Tottenham move last summer

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has revealed that Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho failed in an attempt to sign him last summer.

The Germany international has confirmed that Spurs tried to lure him across London in September as it emerged he would play a peripheral role under then manager Frank Lampard.

Paris Saint Germain’s interest in Rudiger was highly documented at the time and was the player’s preferred destination.

But the defender says he also received a call from former Stamford Bridge boss Mourinho.

When asked how close he was to leaving Chelsea last September, Rudiger said: ‘I was obviously shocked, though maybe shocked is the wrong word.

‘Some things I saw coming, obviously not being in the squad at all was not something I saw coming.

‘But at the end of the day I took it on the chin. There were two teams – but mainly one team I was considering.

Rudiger had a phone call with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho but decided to stay at Chelsea

The Chelsea defender made the decision to stay and play under former boss Frank Lampard

‘PSG and there was a call also with Mourinho but this is something that didn’t happen. So I was a bit upset because I knew my situation was that I would not be playing that often.

‘But then I had talks with the Lampard and all of sudden I was back on the bench and then I also had a couple of games.

‘I just worked my way back. I played the last games of his reign and now things are going well for me.

‘I’m very happy about it, but to be honest I always felt well in the club, they treated me nice, especially the board.

‘No one told me you should leave, neither did Frank Lampard. At the end of the day the loans didn’t happen. But nobody told me I should leave.’