Real Madrid ties Rüdiger

This Tuesday, Real Madrid closed the contract for four years of Chelsea's German center-back Antonio Rüdiger, 29, according to

and has been able to confirm EL PAÍS in sources close to the negotiation, detailing that the footballer had already passed the medical examination, after having negotiated days ago all the ends of the operation.

The German arrives free, since his contract with the English club expires on June 30, for which Madrid will also pay him a signing bonus.

The hiring of Rüdiger comes to alleviate one of the structural weaknesses of the squad detected by Carlo Ancelotti as soon as he returned to Valdebebas last summer.

The Italian coach immediately detected that the list of central defenders was falling short, that he had just seen the departure of the starting couple (Ramos and Varane), and that he had stayed with Militão (third option in the previous season), Alaba (recently arrived), Nacho (fourth option before) and Vallejo (with hardly any filming).

Against this background, Ancelotti immediately called David Luiz, an old acquaintance from his time at Chelsea, a 35-year-old veteran with the talent to shore up the defense.

But the Brazilian had other plans.

He thought that he would be the third on the list, and that perhaps he would not play much at the Bernabéu,

and that at a time when he still had some hope of going to the World Cup in Qatar next November.

He did not see it clearly, and he set course for Brazil.

Madrid started the season with a rookie couple who discovered a chemistry that was adjusted over the months and ended up having a fairly secure season in defense.

Also, when Alaba missed, like in the semi-final against Manchester City, he has once again performed at a high level.

However, Ancelotti has remained convinced that he needed new pieces of great caliber, and Rüdiger has been at his express request.

The club's negotiations with the German did not always run in a straight line, and until spring the footballer was further away than close to the Bernabéu.

He handled a catalog of succulent options, among which Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus stood out, both with more substantial offers than Madrid.

The German even contemplated the option of renewing his contract with Chelsea, but then two circumstances came together that changed the landscape resoundingly: on February 26, before the Government forced him, Roman Abramóvich ceded control of the club to a foundation and on April 12, Chelsea was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League by Madrid at the Bernabéu.

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The open uncertainty in the English club and the impact of what was experienced in Chamartín led the footballer to redefine his demands and his plans.

He then agreed to contemplate an agreement with Real Madrid with less advantageous numbers, but with superior sporting prospects, and with the certainty that hiring him was a priority for the white coach.

The incorporation of Rüdiger, who signs until June 30, 2026, not only adds that bit of competitive rennet that Ancelotti was looking for, but also allows to fix one of the weaknesses of Madrid's defense this year, the aerial game.

David Alaba has won this season only 50% of the duels over the top, and that in which it has been almost the best course of his in this luck.

In the Premier, the newly hired German has won 68.1% of aerial fights this season, and the previous one 75.8%, more in line with Militão, who has moved this year in 72.7% aerial duels won.

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