Rudiger: The 10th German in Real Madrid's history

Despite joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, Antonio Rudiger is not yet in Valdebebas, as he belongs to the group of players who played in matches with their national teams until mid-June.

Rudiger is the 10th German player to have ever joined Real Madrid, with Gunter Netzer being the first to do so back in the summer of 1973. Real Madrid also had a German player called Walter Rositzky, when football was not considered as professional yet.

The 'war' with Velazquez

Santiago Bernabeu fell in love with Borussia Monchengladbach's style of play in the early 1970s. That's why he signed their most talented player.

Gunter Netzer arrived in exchange for 36 million pesetas as an absolute star, the player who was allowed to forget any defensive duties and could play as he pleased at Borussia.

In Madrid, something else awaited him. To begin with, his signing was seen as a challenge to Velazquez's gallantry. However, Netzer failed to convince the fans and Johan Cruyff's performances at Barcelona meant he was judged more harshly.

He left after three seasons in which he won two league titles and two domestic cups.

The leftist Breitner

Paul Breitner joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in exchange for 90 million pesetas. One day he said in the dressing room that he was going to Almeria to shoot a western film.

This was no joke. Breitner appeared in the western 'Potato Fritz'. His left-wing ideas caused unease among the Real Madrid board, especially when he helped the striking Standard workers financially. The club told him it was not a good idea.

"With my money, I do what I want", he replied.

He stayed at Real Madrid for another three seasons to win two LaLiga titles and a cup. But he couldn't win the European Cup, which he had won with Bayern Munich just before joining.

'Uli, Uli'

Uli Stielike did not leave Real Madrid in good terms. His bad relationship with Juanito led to an ugly incident between them in a Real Madrid game against Neuchatel after the German left for Switzerland.

They did not speak to each other and the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup final loss increased the tension between them.

Stielike, who also arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach for around 50 million pesetas, won over the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with his dedication and sacrifice.

The chants of "Uli, Uli" became a rallying cry at the stadium. Stielike was at Real Madrid for eight seasons, winning four league, two cup and one UEFA Cup titles.

From Barcelona

The relationship between Bernd Schuster and Barcelona deteriorated after the 1986 European Cup final defeat to Steaua.

"Barcelona need players with integrity and motivation who feel the colours of the club," said the then president Josep Lluis Nunez.

The rebellious German prodigy spent a season on the sidelines. The following season he returned to action and won the cup with Barcelona, but took his revenge by signing for Real Madrid.

His arrival led to the departure of a player who in a short time had won everyone over at Real Madrid, the Serbian Milan Jankovic. Schuster spent only two seasons at Los Blancos, with two the league titles, as well as a Copa del Rey and two Supercopa de Espana.

His relationship with president Ramon Mendoza deteriorated and he departed the club in the summer of 1990, after receiving 250 million pesetas to terminate his contract.

The October of that same year he joined Atletico Madrid to become the first player to play for all three LaLiga giants.

A big goalkeeper

Fabio Capello wanted a tall goalkeeper. He was not convinced by Santiago Canizares and Francisco Buyo. He did not stop searching for one until September 2, 1996, when Real Madrid signed Germany international Bodo Ilgner from Colognefor just over 350 million pesetas (about 2.1m euros).

Los Blancos had just signed the goalkeeper with whom they would once again become European champions after 32 years of unsuccessful attempts.

He spent five seasons at Real Madrid, winning at least one title in each of them. He hardly played in the last two season due to a shoulder injury that forced him to retire. Ilgner is now a Los Blancos ambassador.

The ugly duckling

Christoph Metzelder is one Real Madrid's flops. He was hit by injuries after he was released from Borussia Dortmund and he managed to play just 30 games in three seasons for Real Madrid.

Everyone was shocked when he was sentenced for trafficking child pornography back in April 2021. Metzelder confessed before the Dusseldorf Administrative Court to sharing 18 files with child and youth pornography on the internet and apologised to the victims. He was handed a 10-month suspended prison sentence.

The genius

Mesut Ozil is the most talented German to have ever worn the Real Madrid shirt. He arrived in the summer of 2011 for 18 million euros to add magic to the idea that Jose Mourinho had in his head.

But in the summer of 2013, Ozil chose to leave Madrid in a decision that could be said that it is one of the great mistakes of modern football. With the 2014 World Cup in sight, he felt undervalued in Madrid, hurt by the signing of Isco and decided to leave for Arsenal, something that shocked a dressing room in which he had a great relationship with Sergio Ramos. At Real Madrid he won a LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana.

The 'Decima' starter

Sami Khedira joined Real Madrid for 10m euros plus four in variable on the same season that Ozil signed for Los Blancos.

He never really impressed at Real Madrid and left to Juventus in 2015 after winning two Copa del Rey titles, a league, Supercopa de Espana and a Champions League trophy, being a starter in the Lisbon final against Atletico Madrid.

King Kroos

There is no debate. Toni Kroos is the finest German player to have played at Real Madrid. Currently in his ninth season at the club, Kroos has won 16 titles as a Real Madrid player, including four Champions League title.

Kroos is the opposite of the rebellious personalities such as Netzer, Breitner or Schuster. He is a genius.

Real Madrid's relationship with Germany is different since Kroos has been wearing the eight on the back of his shirt. He is among the best investments ever made by Real Madrid, who paid 25m euros to sign him from Bayern Munich.