Defender Antonio Rudiger has confirmed his departure from the Germany national team. At 33 years old, the Real Madrid defender believes that the time has come to conclude a remarkable phase in his international career and dedicate himself fully to the Spanish club.
The decision to leave the national team had been considered by the player since the last World Cup. After a period of reflection, Rudiger concluded that the measure will facilitate the generational renewal that coach Klopp seeks to implement in the German team, opening up space for new names and young talents in this new cycle.
With his retirement from the national team, Antonio Rudiger ends a career spanning more than a decade wearing the “Mannschaft” shirt, whose main achievement was winning the Confederations Cup in 2017. The main reason for his international layoff is concern about his physical condition: by easing his travel schedule and national team matches, the defender aims to prolong his performance at a high level and maintain regularity in Spanish football with Real Madrid.
The arrival of coach José Mourinho at Real Madrid also proved to be a crucial factor for the athlete. Rudiger demonstrated total adaptation to the Portuguese coach’s demanding style and competitive mentality, feeling like an essential part of the squad. In full alignment with the new coaching staff, the German player focuses on his daily work at the Santiago Bernabéu with the aim of lifting titles in the current season.
