The dances and his way of running have made Antonio Rüdiger (Berlin, 1993) one of the favorites of the Bernabéu, but his defensive talent has also convinced Ancelotti. The German, formerly of Roma or Chelsea, is the fifth most used field player this season and seeks what some of his teammates have achieved up to five times: to be European champion with Real Madrid. Before the Champions League quarter-final tie against his Chelsea and after becoming an Under Armour athlete, Rüdiger chats with EL MUNDO "in English, better", he jokes in perfect Spanish.

His father is German and his mother from Sierra Leone. How important is it for you to maintain the relationship with your mother's home country?
Of course, it is very important to me because it is also its origin. I respect Germany a lot, of course, but if you look at Germany with respect to Sierra Leone in terms of abundance... There they are very unfortunate. That's why it's always good to do this, to maintain and share hope, which is very important. And that one day they can be or live like me or better. Hopefully they will become better than me, of course.
What was your childhood like? What did you like to do and what was a day like in your family?
My childhood was not easy, but I was still very rich in terms of family unity. The family bond was... different. Very strong. It was 'We', you know? And we still are. And in that sense I think nothing has changed. I thoroughly enjoyed that time with my family, because although it would be easy to say I didn't have money to do this or that, my parents still always tried to make my life easier. Now it's different with my kids (laughs).
Who has been the most important person in your personal life and in your football career?
Always, if I have to put one, removing my parents because that is more than clear, it would be my older brother. He's my friend, my financial advisor, my everything. You know who is by your side in the good times, you see that, everyone is in those good times, but not in the bad. And in the bad ones my brother is always there.
Was he a good or bad student?
Honestly, in school I wasn't a good student, but then in other things I was. For example, when it comes to learning Islam, because I am a Muslim, there yes. So I can say he was a good student (laughs).
It's in the middle of Ramadan, how do you handle it?
I feel very well. As I said, one of my main strengths is the mentality, the head, and I think this is also a mental thing. If you repeat all the time 'I'm hungry', in the end you will be hungry. But if you don't think about it and do what you have to do, everything is fine.
As a child, his parents called him 'Warrior'.
Yes. My mother called me 'Warrior' because she said that if I didn't get what I wanted, I kept fighting. I could hit 10 times with my head against a wall that was still running. So it's like that, I'm a warrior but also very stubborn.
And now it's still the same?
Oh, no. Well, on the lawn yes. I am a warrior. But outside of it I'm a clown to my kids. Life changes profoundly, with children, career, everything... I'm a father and I can't be like that all my life. I'm a clown to my kids, though.
Nathan GallagherWORLD

"I'm sorry for the children of racists"

The big question: Is he crazy?
(Laughter.) I know what they mean when they ask me and that it's in a good way. And yes, I'm crazy because I do whatever it takes to win. All. I do not accept defeat. I'm a positively crazy person because I like people to laugh. The dances, the way of running... It's just for people to laugh. If they laugh at me, no problem, because I can laugh at myself too.
He has spoken many times about racism and has experienced it firsthand. What would you say to people who keep shouting racist insults on a football field?
Look, it's a topic that is still talked about and talked about and talked about... And I'm going to be honest. When I was young, I always tried and focused a lot on this. Too much. But now I try to focus on good people, because when we talk about racism we are only talking about a minority. And I think we need to talk more about everyone who goes to the stadium and cheers. About those who insult, I feel sorry for their children because they clearly show that they have no education.
Speaking of football, what grade do you give to your year at Madrid? We still have important moments to put a note, but about the first months I will say that I have seen them as an adaptation. Madrid is the best club in the world and you have to adapt, whether you want to or not. I don't think I've seen any player come to Madrid and play at a fantastic level at the moment. I'm not having a bad season, or so I think, but you can always improve. I'm in better shape now than at the beginning, because that comes with the pace of play. Now I'm playing a lot and it's different. If you play one match and then don't play two, it's not a good rhythm. Now I have it. I am happy.
Who has helped you the most?
David Alaba, yes. From day one. He's a great friend. We play in the same position, but we are very close. At the end of the day we have to be professional and know how to differentiate. Our families spend a lot of time together, we get along very well... But hey, on the grass if I have to hit him I'm going to hit him (laughs).
Now he faces Chelsea. How do you live it? Won't it be weird to you?
Yes, but it's normal to feel weird. When you play against your old club it's like that. I spent 5 beautiful years there, I won the Champions League and that feeling exists, but now I'm at Real Madrid and here the pressure to win the Champions League is very high. I can't have feelings, just go out there and do my job.
Do you feel that pressure?
Everything around this club is 'Champions League, Champions League'. I'll give you an example: on New Year's Day we had an open training session for the fans, and the balls we gave them were the Champions League balls. There you see that the mentality is different.
Chelsea have changed a lot this season. Is it a very different team than the one you knew?
Yes, but I see them even better. Player by player, maybe they haven't had time to meet as a team, but they have a very strong squad and that makes them unpredictable. They are very talented.
You won the Champions League with Chelsea, but what would it mean to win it with Real Madrid?
Yes... All. It would mean everything to me. Many great players, many legends... And I don't need to go too far back in time, it's worth just looking at my dressing room, there are people there who have won it five times. Five! So to the meWe, at least, at least want to win it three times if I can (laughs). To win it here would be amazing because it would go into the club's history books and nobody can get you out of there.
You are still 30 years old, but have you ever thought about life beyond football? What would you like to do? I read that going to Eurodisney.
Yes, yes. I'll go to Disney, for sure (laughs). But the United States, not France. In addition, my children will be older and will be able to enjoy it. I've never been and I want to go. But after football I want to be a businessman. I don't know what will happen in 10 years, but I don't think I want to be involved in the world of football.
Do you see yourself playing for many more years?
It will depend on my body. If you look at guys like Luka Modric... (Laughter.) I don't know if I'll make it to that age, but we'll see what my body tells me, listen to it and decide.
Have you ever asked Luka what he does to be like this?
No, I have never asked him. But I think it's genetics, the guy is a brush. It's crazy. Maximum respect for him.
What do you like about Madrid?
You have some amazing restaurants. I haven't been able to explore too much because the calendar is crazy and when you have free time, you rest. But now that the good weather is coming, I hope to get good results so that going out to know the city is even better.
He has just announced his link with Under Armour. What values do you share with the brand?
Performance, hard work and helping people, which is something I also do in Sierra Leone. I think this is the most important thing.
One of its characteristics is physical strength. What kind of workouts do you do?
I would say that what makes me strong is not my body, but my head. I don't do a lot of weights, I work more with my own body... Look, if you have an arm bigger than me! (Laughter.)
Now he shares a brand with Dwayne Johnson, The Rock...
Yes, I don't know what he does, but it's clear I can't do that (laughs).



  • Real Madrid
  • Luka Modric

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