Marca: Rudiger wants to renew his contract with Real Madrid; Chelsea still welcomes his return

Hupu reported on November 7 that a column written by the Spanish media "Marca" talked about the future of German veteran Rudiger. The Germany international is reportedly keen to stay at Real Madrid in the long term, although contract extension talks are currently at a standstill.

Expected contract renewal negotiations

"Marca" learned that Real Madrid and Rudiger had previously paved the way for a possible contract renewal. The German central defender's contract will expire on June 30, 2026, but preliminary negotiations between the player and the club began a few months ago. The two parties discussed some specific figures and showed a willingness to understand each other. However, Rudiger withdrew from the team's lineup due to a muscle injury at the end of October, which put the negotiations on hold.

It is reported that the suspension of negotiations was a decision made jointly by both parties, because both the player himself and the club felt that it was not the right time to discuss the future and contract while the defender was concentrating on recovering his body. According to the plan, the two sides will resume dialogue in early 2026, when Rudiger will return to the game and prove that he is still an indispensable core force in Real Madrid's defense.

Rudiger's personal wish

"Marca" understands that Rudiger hopes to stay in Real Madrid. The Bernabeu also attaches great importance to his value, both on and off the court. The fact that negotiations were initiated a few months ago is enough to indicate the club's intention to keep him as an important part of its sporting plans for the long term.

In the view of Real Madrid's senior management, Rudiger is still a very competitive player from a technical level. He is not only a team leader, but also a role model for young players to learn from. His impact was felt not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of leadership and character. In the locker room, he was seen as a natural mentor.

The club also cited some examples: Asensio received the support of Rudiger when he regained his best form in an emergency; for the young player Huizen, although he has not joined Real Madrid for a long time and is still young, he has shown the potential to become the core of the future defense line. Rudiger helped him integrate into the team like an elder brother and let him understand Real Madrid's high requirements.

A player who has gained happiness both on and off the court

In addition to competitive aspects, Rudiger is also currently in the best shape of his personal life. He is very happy in Madrid, a city that allows him to find the perfect balance between professional and family life. He lives in a house in La Finca, which he calls an ideal place for a family, and says he has fully adapted to life in the capital. He is one of the most popular players in the dressing room and the club sees this close relationship as an important reason to support his stay.

In the short term, the German player's only goal is to achieve a full physical and mental recovery. He has played in almost every game over the past two years, even playing through a meniscus injury in his knee. Now, the only priority in his mind is to get back on the pitch and once again prove that he is one of the top centre-backs in the world with the same reliable performances.

Although there are many suitors, Real Madrid is still the first choice.

Although Rudiger hopes to stay at the Bernabeu Stadium, he does not lack suitors. Saudi Arabia has shown strong interest in him over the past few months and is prepared to make him a financially attractive offer that would even exceed what he might have received at Real Madrid. In addition, in England, his old club Chelsea has never completely closed the door on his return and has always maintained friendly ties with its team - this link has never been interrupted since leaving the team in 2022, and the Blues also welcome his return. However, his first choice is clear: to continue wearing the white shirt.

The overall situation of Real Madrid also has a certain impact. The club is currently in the stage of upgrading its defense line. The rise of Huizen and plans to bring in a new central defender next season (Konat is currently the favorite) are all part of the mid-term plan, and Rudiger's name still occupies an important position in this plan.

In contrast, the situation of Austrian central defender Alaba is more complicated. His contract also expires in 2026. Frequent injuries have affected the sustainability of his form, and so far, his contract extension is considered difficult.

So, although negotiations on Rudiger's contract extension are currently on hold, the possibility of him staying on the team has not been ruled out. In fact, the basic economic conditions are already on the table, and it is just waiting for all parties to sit down again after he recovers from injury in 2026 to further finalize the details.

Real Madrid values ​​his commitment, leadership and performance on the field, while Rudiger values ​​the stability, environment and planning provided by the club. In this balanced state, as long as his recovery can achieve the results everyone expects, that is, his physical condition matches his personality, then the contract extension is likely to be reached at the beginning of the new year.