Real Madrid Transfers: 5 players you shouldn’t get your hopes up for
Chelsea CB Antonio Rudiger
I am not sure how many Real Madrid fans are hoping to sign Antonio Rudiger, but like Paul Pogba, he is another high-profile Premier League free agent. There is a lot of mud being thrown around regarding just how much money Rudiger wants, but it is fair to assume that the Chelsea center back will not be cheap.
The potential sanctions on Chelsea due to Roman Abramovich are a key factor here, and it is uncertain how the Blues will be punished. So there is a belief that Rudiger is even more likely to hit free agency.
It seems as though his representation has been using Real Madrid in the media, but Madrid do not seem to be seriously interested. And why would they want a veteran center back when they already have David Alaba and Eder Militao playing at as high of a level as any pairing in Europe? Yes, right there with Liverpool’s long-time excellent partnership of Virgil van Dijk and the ever-underrated Joel Matip.
If Real Madrid want center back depth, they only have to look at their own backyard. They have a few great prospects in Castilla (four, by my count) and Victor Chust on loan. And there are better players to sign than Rudiger, such as Jules Kounde, Pau Torres, William Saliba, Maxence Lacroix, and Manuel Akanji. Just to name a handful.
Let Rudiger go to Juventus or something.