Real Madrid not ruling out defensive leader’s departure amid Saudi Arabia interest | OneFootball

With the 2024/25 season now concluded, Real Madrid have said farewell to two club legends: Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez, who departed upon the expiry of their contracts.

As the Merengues shift their focus to the 2025/26 campaign, four key players are now in the final year of their contracts – Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois.

All four are over the age of 30, which places them under the club’s policy of offering one-year renewals from that point on.

As reported earlier today, an agreement has been reached for Courtois to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2027. As far as Alaba is concerned, an exit remains on the table given his injury woes and high salary.

Rudiger departure not ruled out

Now, according to AS, Real Madrid are not ruling out the sale of Antonio Rudiger this summer if a satisfactory offer is presented.

Will Rudiger remain at Real Madrid next season? (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

There have been links with clubs in Saudi Arabia, which could be a realistic destination for the German international considering his age, career achievements, and the fact that he is in the final year of his contract.

Rudiger has been a stalwart defensively for Real Madrid since arriving, but endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign, playing through knee injury and discomfort for large parts.

Having undergone surgery in the latter parts of the campaign, the German returned to action at the FIFA Club World Cup and looked off-colour.

Despite his consistency and leadership qualities, Real Madrid are concerned about his early-onset osteoarthritis in one knee.

With Dean Huijsen having arrived this summer, and there being talk of an early move for Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool, Rudiger’s departure from Real Madrid this summer might not be outside the realm of possibility, as long as a good offer arrives.