Antonio Rüdiger Excited To Finally Work With Mourinho At Real Madrid

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WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 17: Antonio Rüdiger of Team Germany talks to the media during a press conference at Donovan L. Nicol Hall of Excellence at Winston-Salem State University on June 17, 2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Antonio Rüdiger has opened up about his Real Madrid future, his excitement about working under José Mourinho, and the club’s ambitions moving forward while speaking to the media on World Cup duty with Germany.

“I can’t say too much, but I can say that I’m incredibly excited to work with Mourinho (after nearly joining him on several occasions in the past). Finally, I’m going to play under him. In the past, there were many conversations with him, but for some reason, it never materialized. That’s why I’m even happier to welcome him to us now.”

Rüdiger also reflected on a difficult physical year, explaining that injuries made last season challenging but that his commitment to Real Madrid never wavered. The German international made it clear that Madrid has become home for him and his family.

“I had a tough year last year, especially physically. I had to fight a lot with injuries, but I managed to come back. Madrid is practically my home. I feel very good there, my family feels very good there, and that’s why I never really thought about anything else. I just wanted to get back in shape and earn my new contract. And I did.”

The defender was also asked about the possibility of Nico Schlotterbeck joining Real Madrid. While Rüdiger avoided giving too much away, he praised his Germany teammate’s defensive intensity, aerial threat, and quality on the ball.

“First of all, good players are always welcome. I can’t say much more about that. I would be absolutely delighted (if Schlotterbeck joined). Especially on attacking set pieces, he was always a threat to the opposition. And in duels, he was very intense and fully engaged. Furthermore, Nico’s excellent ball distribution is truly remarkable. His left foot is pure gold. It has to be acknowledged.”

Finally, Rüdiger addressed Real Madrid’s recent struggles and pointed to the elite attacking talent in the squad as a reason for optimism. Despite admitting that the last two years have been difficult, he backed Madrid’s biggest names to deliver in decisive moments.

“The last two years at Real Madrid were tough. We weren’t successful. But if you look at the profile of players we have there, those kinds of players, like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, or Vinicius, are exactly the ones who step up when you need those decisive players.”

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