Bundesliga News

Rüdiger reportedly very close to sign with Real Madrid

By Rafael Garrido Reinoso   @RGarrido2210

After officially announcing that he's going to leave Chelsea for free in the summer, Antonio Rüdiger is said to have reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid on a long-term contract.
Antonio Rüdiger.
Antonio Rüdiger. Photo: Granada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
After spending most of the season flirting with several of the top-tier clubs, Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger's saga might soon come to an end.


According to several reports in Spain, the German center-back has become the Real Madrid directives board's main priority, and both parties have reached a verbal agreement

It is also said a medical team from the Spanish club will travel to London soon to perform the medical check on Rüdiger.

Real Madrid's trainer Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his desire to the board to sign Rüdiger, whom he sees as a quality centre-back and a superb market opportunity.

The defender tried to push as much as possible on his contractual demands, but after not being able to secure a deal of his liking with other top clubs, he reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Los Blancos.

After Thomas Tuchel officially said at a press conference that Chelsea's arguably best defender this season had informed the club that he's leaving when his contract runs out, Real Madrid started to accelerate the negotiations with Rüdiger's agents.


Tuchel said that is a hard loss for the team, but that they do not take it personally and that they could not fight for him more due to the sanctions received by club owner Roman Abramovich.

However, this statement is contradicted by Spanish media if the German coach referred to the contract's economic terms.

Several media outlets close to Real Madrid are talking about the German defender rejecting a €12 million-a-year offer from Chelsea to earn around €9 million at Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti is eager to count with Rüdiger, his arrival immediately improves the defense, making it one of the best in the world name by name, but also allows the Italian trainer to have several options and replacements at the back.

The duo Alaba-Militao has been pretty solid throughout the season, but has had its moments of doubt.

The questions around the defense have also risen this season despite the good form of the team.

The injury-prone pair of Mendy and Carvajal along with the not very reliable Marcelo and the very versatile but not world-class Nacho, have convinced Ancelotti that reinforcements are needed.

Rüdiger could pair with Militao, playing in his natural role on the left side of the central defense, pushing David Alaba to the left-back spot.

However, the German's versatility allows him to play in both spots in the center of the defense as well as a right-back.

Dani Carvajal does not have a natural replacement and the Lucas Vasquez experiment has not shown the strength required for the position, so it is possible for Rüdiger to play there from time to time.


More about Antonio Rüdiger

Bundesliga News

Fantasy Football

Tactics Talk

Editor's picks

Profiles

Turn back time