Rüdiger, when it’s all over

Antonio Rüdiger’s arrival at Real Madrid is a fact, pending only the official confirmation by the white club. It will not be necessary for Chelsea to make it official, as the German will arrive for free after finishing his contract with the London club. Although, in a certain way, the departure of Rüdiger has already been confirmed by the Chelsea coach, Thomas Tuchel: “Antonio is leaving, he told me in a private conversation. It’s a personal decision, we will miss him.”

As of June 30, Rüdiger will no longer be a Chelsea player, but it will not be necessary to wait that long to make his arrival at Madrid official. FIFA regulations authorize players to sign with a new club in the last six months of their contracthence the announcement will arrive when Madrid has finished its official season.

Or the 22nd, or the 28th of May

That could happen on the weekend of May 21 and 22, in which Madrid has scheduled its last league match, against Betis at the Bernabéu. Chelsea also ends its season on Sunday the 22nd. If the white team comes back from 4-3 in the first leg against City this Wednesday, the end of the campaign would be moved to May 28, when the Champions League final will take place in Paris. Rüdiger will come later.

With this signing, Madrid deepens its tendency to acquire players at zero cost, a trend that is clearly on the rise after the economic consequences of the pandemic. This is how Alaba arrived last year and this is how Rüdiger will arrive this year; also Mbappé, if nothing goes wrong, after ending his contract with PSG on June 30.