Mueez Ajao
– Antonio Rudiger has been announced as a new Real Madrid player, with the German centre-back signing a four-year deal with the European champions.
– After five years with Chelsea, his contract in London is set to expire on June 30 and he’ll then become a Real Madrid player on a free transfer, similar to the operation that saw David Alaba arrive from Bayern Munich last year.
– This was a great market opportunity and Rudiger was also a player who Carlo Ancelotti wanted to bolster the squad, so Real Madrid pushed to make this signing happen.
Also Read: Rudiger accepts to join Real Madrid
– Rudiger was an important target for Real Madrid and one they sealed some time ago.
👋 #WelcomeRüdiger 👋 pic.twitter.com/z7w28u6T6i
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 2, 2022
– It now remains to be seen how he’ll fit into the line-up, as he joins a squad where Eder Militao and David Alaba are the established starting centre-backs, while his arrival could also have implications for Nacho and Ferland Mendy.
🙌 #WelcomeRüdiger 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rP2yFOjse1
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 2, 2022
– The 1.90m centre-back has played 50 times for Germany and also has a Champions League title to his name, having been key to Chelsea’s 2020/21 success.
Official Announcement: Rüdiger.#RealMadrid | #WelcomeRüdiger
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 2, 2022
– He will be presented as a Real Madrid player on Monday June 20 at midday.
✍️👕 @ToniRuediger will be unveiled as a @realmadriden player on Monday 20 June at 12 noon (CEST) at #RMCity.#WelcomeRüdiger pic.twitter.com/Vg1XZBPcuL
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 2, 2022
– The new Real Madrid player and the 29-year-old centre-back has spoken about his excitement at moving to the Spanish capital.
– After Real Madrid released a statement to confirm his arrival, the player took to social media too to share a message.
– “I’m proud to announce that I’ll be joining Real Madrid,” Rudiger wrote on Twitter.
– “I’m super excited for all the challenges ahead and can’t wait to play my first games for this huge club.”
– Before it was confirmed that he’d be joining Real Madrid, Rudiger had already said goodbye to Chelsea.
– “Chelsea will always be in my heart, London will always be my home,” he said on the Players’ Tribune.
– “I came here alone, and now I have a wife and two beautiful kids. I also have a new brother for life named Kova [Mateo Kovacic].
– “I have an FA Cup, a Europa League and a Champions League medal. And of course, I have hundreds of memories that will stay with me forever.”
– He did also, however, reflect on how contract renewal talks had been difficult at Chelsea.
– “Unfortunately, my contract negotiations had already started to get difficult last fall,” Rudiger wrote.
– “Business is business, but when you don’t hear any news from the club from August to January, the situation becomes complicated.
– “After the first offer, there was a long gap of just nothing.
– “We’re not robots, you know? You cannot wait for months with so much uncertainty about your future.”
– Now, his future is decided and he is set to play for Real Madrid for the next four seasons.
