Real Madrid Complete The Signing Of This Chelsea Defender: How Does He Fit Into Ancelotti’s Starting XI?

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger over a free transfer. The Blues were unable to renew Rudiger’s contract and announced his departure on Thursday.

Rudiger’s Impressive Form In English Football This Season

Rudiger has proven himself to be a dominant presence at the heart of Chelsea’s backline. The 29-year-old has managed to score 5 goals and secured one assist over 52 appearances for the Blues this season across various competitions.

The German defender has proven himself to be a key player at the back after he averaged 1.4 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League.

He has even been excellent with his ball distribution after completing 89.6% passes with 80.3 average passes per game in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).

How Does Rudiger Fit Into Real Madrid Boss Carlos Ancelotti’s Starting XI?

Rudiger has been a solid presence at the centre-half of Chelsea’s defence over the past few years. He can spot the danger quickly and doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition is on the attack.

The German sensation can time his tackles well to earn the ball back from the opposition and remains proficient in making a few blocks around his penalty box. He excels at playing his way out from the back and is exceptional in distributing the ball to his teammates.

The Chelsea star would enhance the quality of Ancelotti’s backline and can provide more depth to the squad. He could replace Eder Militao and look at a long-term partnership with David Alaba at the heart of Madrid’s backline.

The German talent has been a key player in Chelsea’s success for the last season which brought them a Champions League title. A player of his calibre would be a great fit for the Spanish giants as they head into a season where they need to defend both the Champions League and La Liga titles.