Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ace receives support from former Barcelona superstar after ACL injury
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo received gutting news on Tuesday as tests confirmed that he had suffered a rupture of the ACL and the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the game against Getafe.
The 25-year-old Brazilian forward is expected to be out of action for close to a year, meaning his season is over, he will miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and he might not play again in 2026.
It was a huge blow for the attacker, who shared an emotional message after the confirmation of the injury, calling it ‘one of the worst days of his life’.
Neymar shows support for Rodrygo
Following the brutal news of the ACL rupture, Rodrygo has now received support from former Barcelona superstar and compatriot Neymar Jr.
In an emotional message shared on social media, the Brazilian icon recalled his own experiences with long-term injuries and asked the 25-year-old forward to focus on his mental health during the recovery process.
“Today is one of the saddest days for me. When I heard about the injury, a movie played in my head. All the suffering, all the anguish and the fear of living with this injury!
“My number 10, my boy, my heir (as I call you), I only ask one thing of you… ‘take care of yourself.’ Now is the time to surround yourself with everyone you love…,” the message read.
Continuing, Neymar wrote: “And as you said, you didn’t deserve to go through this right now… but who are we to doubt God’s plans?
“Little brother… STRENGTH, I’m sure you’ll be back flying high. I love you just as you supported me, I’ll be here for you!!”
Thanking Neymar for his support, Rodrygo commented on the post: “Thank you, my idol! It’s very difficult but God knows all things. I’ll be cheering for you from the sidelines, as always! I love you.”
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
