Madrid Universal
·16 July 2025
Bayern Munich sensation names Real Madrid star as his toughest opponent – ‘Not nice to play against’

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Yahoo sportsMadrid Universal
·16 July 2025
Jamal Musiala has endured a tough start to the summer, picking up a harrowing injury that may sideline him for a significant period.
This is part of the reason why Bayern Munich are so serious about signing a new winger this summer, with the club targeting a move for Barcelona target Luis Diaz.
Nevertheless, Musiala spoke to The Athletic recently, opening up about his early life and the story behind one of football’s biggest breakthroughs in recent years.
During the interview, Musiala was also asked about the toughest defender he has ever played against during his career so far.
In response, the Bayern Munich star didn’t hesitate naming Real Madrid superstar Antonio Rudiger, even heaping praise on the German.
Musiala and Rudiger are good friends off the pitch (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
“Toughest opponent? Antonio Rudiger. We played against Real Madrid in the Champions League, and that was quite tough,” he said.
It must be noted that Musiala and Rudiger play together for the German national team and therefore, they know each other quite well.
Although Real Madrid and Bayern Munich haven’t faced often in the Champions League in recent years, Musiala is certainly used to facing Rudiger in training.
The German international even pointed out that playing against Rudiger is not the nicest things in football.
“I’ve known him for quite a few years. And, yeah, it’s not nice playing against him,” he added.
Muslala’s comments are indicative of the kind of the respect and love Rudiger receives from his teammates, with many even rating him one of the best defenders in the world.
However, it will be interesting to see how Rudiger fares under new coach Xabi Alonso, who willl be mindful of the fact that Rela Madrid need to build a new core in defence and cannot continue to rely on veterans such as Rudiger and David Alaba.