Real Madrid should’ve really done something about their depth at the centre-back position this season when both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos left the club, but they only signed David Alaba and brought back Jesus Vallejo to make him the fourth-choice centre-back. It was a bit of a risk bringing him back, and that’s probably the reason why he hasn’t played a single minute of football. That will likely continue until Ancelotti has no choice but to play him.
But, it does seem like Real Madrid are looking at options to sign next year, as there will be a few players that will become free agents in June. One of them is, of course, Antonio Rudiger. We’ve talked about him here, and even Fabrizio Romano has mentioned that Real Madrid will be interested in his signing if he doesn’t extend his contract with Chelsea.
According to MARCA, Real Madrid are very interested in the idea of signing Rudiger and he is definitely their main target at centre-back, and he has what Real Madrid are looking for in a centre-back.
Is Antonio Rudiger the right centre-back for Real Madrid?
According to the report from MARCA, this is the type of player that Real Madrid are most interested in at the moment. There are two reasons for it. One is financial, while the other one is sporting.
Firstly, they want Rudiger mainly because he’s a great centre-back and he doesn’t cost the club any transfer fee. Well, of course, he would still cost some money. But, the amount of money going into his signing would be far lesser than what Real would have to pay for someone like Pau Torres or Jules Kounde. Both of them are young, yes, which is why they’re expensive. But, in my opinion, they’re not really worth the 70-80 million asking price. Getting Rudiger without paying a transfer fee would also allow Los Blancos to make more signings that actually require transfer fees.
Signing Rudiger now is definitely a good idea, and then when one of those two blossoms into the player they are supposed to be, then Real Madrid can try to get them. Alaba and Rudiger are both supposed to be at their peak, and they’re not solutions for the future, so Real Madrid are almost definitely going to go for another centre-back at some point, but these two would be able to hold their own until then. All this is if Real manage to get Rudiger, of course.
This brings me to the second point. The sporting reason. Rudiger has so much game time and experience under his belt, and all of that will definitely help Real Madrid during the now, instead of the future. He’s fully blossomed into the player he is supposed to be and, at the same time, is showing signs of getting better. He’s excellent with the ball at his feet and is always in sync with the rest of the defense. Clearly, Thomas Tuchel saw something in him that Frank Lampard didn’t, and that’s why he is now a starter for the Blues.
He’s one of the most underrated centre-backs in the Premier League, or at least, he was until last season. Getting him at the club next season would definitely be one of Real Madrid’s topmost priorities.