John Ruddy admits he was flattered to be the subject of interest from Jose Mourinho during the summer, but he was never going to demand a transfer.
With Thibaut Courtois enjoying a third successive loan season at Atletico Madrid, Mourinho was keen to add another shot-stopper to his Chelsea squad. The Portuguese wanted someone who could provide stiff competition to regular number one Petr Cech, and who could possibly challenge to become first choice in the future.
Ruddy was identified as top target for the Stamford Bridge club, and they went as high as £6million to lure him to the capital. However, Norwich City refused to sell the 26-year-old, who has earned a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and won his first full international cap for England in August last year.
Whilst such a move would have given him the chance of UEFA Champions League football in a World Cup year, the former Cambridge United and Everton youngster insists he was never going to force the issue. And having signed a new contract last year which keeps him at Carrow Road until 2016, his only thoughts are with the Canaries.
“The club didn’t get an offer they deemed acceptable,” he told the Pink ‘Un. “I was flattered by the interest and I thank Chelsea and Mourinho for that, but it wasn’t to be. It was all sorted fairly early before we started pre-season, so I was ready to get my head down and work hard and to try and maintain my performances that I had last year.
“It was very nice, very flattering, but it was something the club didn’t want to look at and they were well within their rights. I’ve signed a long-term deal here and I wouldn’t have signed that if I wasn’t happy at Norwich. It was one of those where if it didn’t happen, then so be it. I’m not going to kick up a fuss and force my way out.”
