Rudiger excited to link up with 'father' Mourinho
Antonio Rudiger quipped that Jose Mourinho is his footballing father as he looked ahead to working under the returning Real Madrid boss next season.
Mourinho won three trophies – one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana – in his first spell at Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013.
He is now back for a second stint after the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa, who like his predecessor Xabi Alonso only lasted half a season as Madrid went without silverware in 2025-2026.
Madrid has been busy in the transfer market ahead of Mourinho's return, having already agreed deals to sign Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate.
But it has also retained one of its most experienced players in Rudiger, with the centre-back signing a one-year contract extension earlier this month.
Rudiger has made 182 appearances for Los Blancos since joining from Chelsea in 2022, helping it win one LaLiga crown and one UEFA Champions League among eight trophies overall in his time at the club.
Rudiger's combative style is something he shares with his new head coach, and speaking after Germany's 2-1 defeat to Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 33-year-old suggested it should be a good fit.
"Excited about working with Mourinho? We're going to think about the [FIFA] World Cup and then I'll go to my father," he quipped.
Last week, Rudiger noted in a press conference that he had missed out on previous opportunities to work with Mourinho, saying: "I can't say too much, but I can say that I'm very excited. At last, I'm going to play under him.
"In the past, there were many conversations with him, but for some reason it never happened. That's why now I'm even happier to have him with us."
Madrid's 2026-2027 LaLiga fixtures will be confirmed on 1 July (AEST), with Mourinho coming off the back of an unbeaten Primeira Liga campaign with Benfica in 2025-2026, albeit one that did not result in silverware as it drew 11 of its 34 games to finish third.
