Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger will miss the final few weeks of the regular season after undergoing knee surgery.
The Germany international was facing the prospect of a lengthy suspension following his conduct at the end of Madrid’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona on Saturday and it may be the club have decided to act now, putting him under the knife while he is sidelined, to ensure he is fit for the Club World Cup that starts in June.
A club statement read: “Antonio Rüdiger underwent surgery today for a tear in the outer meniscus of his left knee. The operation was performed by Dr Manuel Leyes under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical services. Rüdiger will begin his recovery process shortly.”
Rüdiger medical report.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 29, 2025
Rudiger loses his cool in sweltering Seville
Rudiger was sent off with seconds remaining of Madrid’s 3-2 extra-time defeat to Barcelona in Seville and failed to hide his anger, throwing an ice pack at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and having to be restrained by staff and team-mates as he attempted to get to the official.
Rudiger apologised on social media yesterday, admitting there was “no excuse for my behaviour”, but it remains to be seen what sanction is handed down with reports suggesting he could be given a 12-game domestic ban.
The 32-year-old’s actions have not gone down well in his homeland either and German Football Association sporting director Rudi Voller issued a sharp rebuke.
He told the SID news agency: “Toni is a great player, but as a national team player, he must also show class in his behaviour. He rightly demands respect for himself, but he must extend that same respect to others without exception.
“In this case, he and some teammates have been too affected by the extremely heated atmosphere that was inexplicably prevalent around the club. That’s not possible. Not as a German national team player.
“His has to change that and he knows that himself, his public reaction shows that.”
A weekend of controversy
Madrid had prior to the game petitioned for referee De Burgos and VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes to be replaced after the two officials outlined their disgust at a video on the club’s in-house TV channel that highlighted errors made during their careers.
Bengoetxea’s biggest call of the game went in Madrid’s favour as, following a VAR review at the pitchside monitor, he reversed his initial decision to award Barcelona a 96th-minute penalty after Raul Asencio appeared to bring down Raphinha.
That meant normal time ended with the game level at 2-2, Ferran Torres having equalised after Kylian Mbappe’s free-kick and Aurelien Tchouameni’s header had given Madrid a second-half lead following Pedri’s stunning opener for Barca.
But Kounde’s fierce drive in the 116th minute secured victory for Barcelona as they stayed on course for the treble, and prompted scenes of anger from the Madrid bench with Rudiger, Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez all dismissed as Madrid lost their discipline.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side now have to turn their attention back to the league and trying to bridge the four-point gap to table-toppers Barca.
They host Celta Vigo at the weekend before a season-defining Clasico against a Barcelona side that have now beaten them three times this season.
