Real Madrid to decide on heavyweight’s renewal based on performances after injury layoff | OneFootball

Antonio Rudiger is one of several Real Madrid players whose current contract at the club expires in the summer of 2026, meaning he has less than a year left on his deal.

Thibaut Courtois, for one, is understood to have reached an agreement over an extension at the Santiago Bernabeu, while the Merengues are not planning to offer a new deal to David Alaba.

Rudiger’s fate depends on performances

And, according to COPE’s Melchor Ruiz, Real Madrid will evaluate Rudiger’s situation based on how he performs following his recovery from injury.

The German international, one of the defensive leaders of the team, endured a difficult 2024/25 season as he played most of the campaign with knee problems.

Rudiger ended up undergoing surgery towards the final phase of the campaign and spent close to two months out, before returning to action at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Antonio Rudiger’s contract expires in 2026. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The former Chelsea centre-back’s performances in the tournament in the USA were far from convincing.

Rudiger is also dealing with an early-onset osteoarthritis in one knee, another matter that concerns Real Madrid.

So, despite there being talks of a one-year extension already, there will be no immediate decision made.

Instead, the Merengues will see how Rudiger returns to action in the new season and how he performs over the course of the campaign before deciding on whether to offer him a new deal or not.

Rudiger, for his part, remains determined to bounce back strongly after a disappointing run of performances at the Club World Cup.