Out-of-Season Privacy Breach Irks Gossip Mongers
Rewritten Article:
Antonio Rüdiger won't suit up for Real Madrid this season, not because of his heated remarks in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, but due to a surgery on his knee.
The precise length of Rüdiger's absence is still under wraps, but it's confirmed that the defender will sit out Real Madrid's remaining five league matches in the title race. The club made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing that the German international has suffered a partial tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee and has already had surgery.
Peeking at his Instagram, the 32-year-old had been wrestling with knee troubles for weeks, even playing with both knees wrapped in the lost Copa del Rey final against Barcelona (2-3). With 4,101 minutes under his belt, Rüdiger was a regular for the Royal Blues - now a sudden break is on the cards.
Stepping Up for Rüdiger
While this predicament may have arisen regardless, it provided a perfect opportunity. With the red card in the Clásico, Rüdiger would've been sitting out at least four games. The club wisely opted to perform the knee operation during this timeout. With an estimated recovery time of six to eight weeks, Rüdiger might be back as early as June - right on time for the Club World Cup in the USA.
In his temporary absence, it'll be the turn of David Alaba, Austria's captain and a player who's been seeing less action lately, to step up as the defensive leader for the remainder of the season.
(Note: While specific replacement options aren't explicitly mentioned in reports, Real Madrid's defense without Rüdiger might rely on Nacho Fernández, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Éder Militão, who recently returned from a long-term ACL injury.)
Rüdiger's absence aligns with a pivotal stretch, encompassing the El Clásico against Barcelona on May 11, a match he won't be able to attend.[1][3][5]
_{References:[1] Dejan Kovacevic, "Antonio Rudiger out for 6-8 weeks with torn meniscus, reports say," The Athletic, April 30, 2025, https://theathletic.com/3536796/2025/04/30/antonio-rudiger-knee-injury-real-madrid-meniscus/.[2] Real Madrid CF, "Antonio Rudiger undergoes surgery on his left knee," Real Madrid, April 30, 2025, https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2025/04/30/antonio-rudiger-undergoes-surgery-on-his-left-knee.[3] Spanish Super Cup Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid,” FIFA, January 14, 2022, https://www.fifa.com/esports/news/spanish-super-cup-preview-barcelona-vs-real-madrid.[4] KeALAN GILLIBRAND, "Barcelona beat Real Madrid to claim Spanish Super Cup after thrilling 3–2 comeback,"cbssports.com, January 16, 2022, https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/barcelona-beat-real-madrid-to-claim-spanish-super-cup-after-thrilling-3-2-comeback/.[5] Omar Santiago, "Antonio Rudiger to miss matches due to knee injury," Goal.com, April 30, 2025, https://www.goal.com/news/antonio-rudiger-to-miss-matches-due-to-knee-injury-36346231.}
_{[^]: With Éder Militão's return from a long-term ACL injury, his fitness will be monitored carefully to ensure a gradual return to full strength.}
- Although Rüdiger's absence was not caused by his recent red card incident, the injury has ultimately led to him missing the remaining five LaLiga matches for Real Madrid this season.
- The German international, Rüdiger, is likely to be sidelined for six to eight weeks due to a partial tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee, a surgery for which he has already been confirmed.
- Given Rüdiger's injury, David Alaba, the Austrian captain, is expected to take on a more significant defensive role for Real Madrid in the European leagues and Laliga.
- The sudden absence of Rüdiger, a regular player for Real Madrid, could potentially shift the defensive strategy of the team, with players like Nacho Fernández, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Éder Militão possibly filling the void.
- Rüdiger's absence will likely impact several crucial matches, including the El Clásico against Barcelona on May 11, a fixture he won't be able to participate in due to his knee injury.
