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Rudiger won Champions League with Chelsea before leaving on a free in 2022
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The German has won numerous titles since joining the Spanish club.
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Former
Real Madrid
and
Chelsea
Midfielder Claude Makelele stated that he was the one who prompted
Antonio Rudiger
to exchange Stamford Bridge for the Bernabéu.
When Makelele transferred in the summer of 2023, he moved in the opposite direction after signing with the Blues. The French player went on to appear 217 times for the west London team and became an essential component of the squad.
Jose Mourinho
team that electrified the league nearly 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, Rudiger had an opportunity to join Madrid in 2022 as his current deal was nearing expiration. Although he was already known for being a reliable backline presence, since joining Real Madrid, he has emerged as one of the top defenders globally.
Makelele has astonishingly disclosed that he encouraged Rudiger to depart Chelsea for Madrid about three years back when other major European clubs showed interest.
Bayern Munich
and
Paris Saint-Germain
.
‘Just look at him now playing for Real Madrid,’
said Makelele via Marca
.” The moment he had the opportunity at Real Madrid, he came to me and asked: ‘What do you think?’ So, I advised him, go for it; this is your chance.’
He received proposals from clubs like Bayern and PSG… but I asked him, ‘Do you crave winning more trophies? You’ve already claimed several, you possess all it takes, yet do you genuinely aspire to reach that elite status as a player?’
‘Go there, mingle with the top players, and then you will grasp what it signifies. I am pleased for him.’
Rudiger has claimed a Spanish Cup, LaLiga title, and Champions League along with the European Cup he won during his time at Chelsea. This season, the 32-year-old has played consistently for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, appearing in all but three matches, two of which were due to injuries.
During his time at the Bernabéu during the peak of the Galáctico period, Makelele spent three seasons where flashy stars received more attention than less vocal players. This led to an undervaluation of his skills, ultimately resulting in his transfer to Chelsea.
His departure from Madrid notably prompted Zinedine Zidane to question, “Why would you add another gold coat to a Bentley when you’ve already lost its engine?”
The French player proceeded to reshape the heart of defense position in England, a role that for a period was even identified by his own moniker.
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