According to the French international, Rüdiger came running to his doorstep, seeking for advise when Real Madrid first showed interest. In his words, he said:

“The first thing Rüdiger did when he got the chance to sign for Real Madrid was come and ask me: ‘What do you think?’ I told him: ‘Run, that’s your chance’.

The French legend went on to insist that Real Madrid were not the only party interested in Rüdiger. However, he swayed the former Chelsea man to follow the Real Madrid route, as he said;

He (Rüdiger) had offers from PSG, Bayern… I said to him, ‘you already have everything, but do you really want to become a player of that caliber? Then go there (Madrid). Rub your shoulders with the greatest players, and you will understand what it means’.”

Rüdiger’s Impact At Real Madrid

In an era when Real Madrid was transitioning from the departure of the great Sergio Ramos, the club couldn’t have asked for something better. Although he initially struggled in his first season, he more than proved himself in his second season.

The 2022/23 was not a tough season for Rüdiger alone, but for the entire madrid squad. This comes after the club only succeeded in winning the Copa del Rey. Losing the Champions league semi’s to Man city, losing the Spanish super cup to Barcelona and finishing second in LaLiga.

However, 2023/24 was a redemption season for not only Rüdiger but for Real Madrid as a whole. Despite suffering numerous injuries in the squad especially in defense, Rüdiger stepped up and led the team’s defense to 5/6 trophies, missing out only on the Copa del Rey.

In his third season with Real Madrid, Rüdiger continues to show why he’s the man for the club.