German defender Antonio Rudiger has explained that his decision to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid was influenced by delays in contract negotiations with Chelsea. He stated that the opportunity to join Real Madrid was too good to pass up, as such chances are rare.
Rudiger highlighted that winning the Champions League with Chelsea significantly impacted his move to the Spanish club. He shared his thoughts with Inside Scoop, saying, “There was a long period without talks. Sometimes you think about not getting injured, but I continued to play my best.”
He also acknowledged that winning the Champions League with Chelsea was likely his ticket to a move to one of the world’s biggest clubs, stating, “Real Madrid does not come knocking often.”
In addition to discussing his transfer, Rudiger named Sergio Aguero as the toughest opponent he has faced during his career. He also expressed admiration for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, calling them “more than human beings.”
Rudiger said, “For me, the striker who gave me a lot of headaches was Kun Aguero. That guy was really tough to play against. I could mention Messi or Ronaldo, but they feel like they are from a different planet, so I’ll go with human beings.”
When asked about the best player he has played alongside, Rudiger noted, “I could mention Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, or Eden Hazard, but I have to go with Karim Benzema because he was an exceptional striker. His intelligence is remarkable—world class.”
