Article body analysed
By WILL PICKWORTH, SPORTS REPORTER Published: 19: 29 AEDT, 17 October 2025 | Updated: 20: 28 AEDT, 17 October 2025 16 View comments Real Madrid are set to release Antonio Rudiger at the end of the 2025-26 season, according to reports. Rudiger, 32, joined the Spanish giants on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022 and he has enjoyed three hugely impressive seasons at the Bernabeu. The German centre back has been an integral figure for Real, playing 157 times for the club and winning eight trophies, although he has fallen out of favour under Xabi Alonso this season. And, according to German outlet BILD, Rudiger's contract, which is up at the end of the season, won't be extended. The report adds that Alonso is not convinced by Rudiger's consistency and fitness record amid several niggling injuries in recent seasons. The 32-year-old is currently sidelined due to a thigh problem he picked up at the start of September and he is not expected to return until November. Real Madrid are reportedly set to release defender Antonio Rudiger at the end of the season Rudiger has been a key man at Real over the past three years but he has fallen out of favour Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen have established themselves as Real's preferred centre back pairing in his absence and the pair have generally impressed. Rudiger is also believed to be one of Madrid's highest earners and given he is viewed as a backup by Alonso, his salary of more than €10million-per-season is seen as prohibitive. Meanwhile, reports of his potential exit come just months after the German was involved in a training ground bust-up with Real team-mate Jude Bellingham. It came amid a difficult period of the campaign, where Real ultimately came second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. Spanish outlet El Chiringuito reported at the time how tensions boiled over in training, with Bellingham and Rudiger having to be separated by team-mates. It was said that former Chelsea defender Rudiger put a bad tackle in on Bellingham during a small-sided game and received an insult back from the England star. News of his potential exit comes just months after he clashed with Jude Bellingham in training Team-mates had to interfere, although the matter was later resolved. Alongside Real and Chelsea, Rudiger has also played for Stuttgart in his native Germany and Roma, while he has won 81 international caps. Los Blancos currently sit top of La Liga after seven wins in eight games, and they have also won their first two games in the Champions League. They return to action against Getafe on Sunday before hosting Juventus in Europe on Wednesday.
Share what you think
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.
By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd