Once a mainstay, Real Madrid veteran no longer a guaranteed starter under Alonso | OneFootball

According to a recent report from MARCA, Antonio Rudiger may no longer be guaranteed a starting place at Real Madrid.

Even though the German defender is now back to full fitness, manager Xabi Alonso appears to be leaning towards other options in his back line.

The shift comes as Eder Militao has returned from injury and immediately impressed in recent matches. Alongside young talent Dean Huijsen, the Brazilian has shown both solidity and composure.

Their partnership worked well in the win over Osasuna, which left Rudiger’s position in question.

Will have to fight for his place

Just a season ago, Rudiger was the undisputed leader of Madrid’s defence. Under Carlo Ancelotti, his role was unquestioned, as he was the first name on the team sheet.

In fact, no outfield player featured more last season, with Rudiger racking up 4,532 minutes. The year before, he was again among the most used players, second only to Federico Valverde with 4,076 minutes.

Antonio Rudiger will have to fight for his place under Alonso. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

That workload largely came because of long-term injuries to Militao and David Alaba, which forced the German to step up as Madrid’s defensive general.

Now, however, the situation has changed. With Alaba recovering, Militao fit again, and Huijsen brought in as reinforcement, Alonso has a deeper pool of defenders than in previous years.

That depth is good news for Madrid’s overall stability, but it means Rudiger is no longer the automatic starter he once was.

Alonso’s shakeup

Alonso’s tactical ideas differ from his predecessor. He wants more mobility and flexibility in defence, relying on centre-backs who can step forward with the ball and adapt quickly to transitions.

Militao’s pace and Huijsen’s calm presence appear to match those demands perfectly. For Rudiger, he will need to prove again that he deserves a central role in this new project.

His experience and leadership remain invaluable, but competition is fierce. As a result, the German faces one of his toughest battles since joining Los Blancos.