Real Madrid may extend defender’s contract despite rumours suggesting otherwise – report | OneFootball

According to a report from Real Madrid Confidencial, president Florentino Perez is considering renewing Antonio Rudiger’s contract.

While the German defender has lost his status as an irreplaceable starter, he remains a key player for the club and is expected to see regular playing time throughout the 2025/26 season.

Notably, it must be remembered that Real Madrid are also exploring other centre-back options.

The club has shown interest in Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, even though they already have five centre-backs in their squad currently.

This shows that while they are planning for the future, they are also aware of the need to maintain depth and quality in defence.

Balancing present and future needs

Rudiger and David Alaba both have contracts running until 2026. Until now, Real Madrid have shown little willingness to extend either deal.

Antonio Rudiger’s contract could be extended. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

However, according to Real Madrid Confidencial, the club could offer Rudiger a one-year extension, keeping him at the club until June 2027.

This would give the team flexibility to manage their defensive lineup while waiting for potential targets like William Saliba, whose contract would end in the same year.

Alaba’s situation, on the other hand, appears to be final. Reports suggest that his story at the club is unlikely to change, meaning no contract extension is expected for the Austrian defender.

It is clear that Real Madrid want to remain competitive while also preparing for the future.

Extending Rudiger’s contract is a decision that would ensure they have experienced players available, without rushing into permanent changes in the squad.

While Real Madrid would continue to pursue new signings, the club also values the contributions of players like Rudiger, making sure the team stays strong across all competitions.