Rüdiger: new season and new role, Xabi Alonso makes it clear to him

The change experienced by Real Madrid hasn't only had consequences for the technical direction of the first team. The arrival of Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of Santiago Bernabéu locker room, in addition to the four signings made by the club's leadership, has altered the hierarchy.

In this regard, the decisions made by the Tolosa coach are rearranging the footballers according to their availability and the trust the new coach has regarding their performance and expectations. The debate over the center of the club's defense, one of the areas most affected by injuries, doesn't escape the scrutiny of all the club's fans.

The friendly matches played during the 25/26 preseason, as well as the league debut against Osasuna at Santiago Bernabéu, have defined who Xabi Alonso's starting center-back pair is. The duo formed by a recently recovered Éder Militão and a Dean Huijsen already crowned as the leader of the defense is practically unbreakable. That decision leaves out two players who had been undisputed starters under Carlo Ancelotti last season: Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger.

Both center-backs were heavily singled out for their mistakes in the Club World Cup semifinals against PSG, a match that would have completely changed the coach's opinion. So much so that now Antonio Rüdiger becomes the third center-back for the club, with Raúl Asencio taking the spot as the fourth defender... ahead of a David Alaba who is increasingly reinvented as a midfielder.

Almost from scratch

To avoid speculation and misunderstandings, Xabi Alonso himself has clarified Rüdiger's situation as Defensa Central has learned. The impeccable track record of the German "22" is impossible to ignore, but the promise of better performance now lies in the boots of Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen. Nevertheless, Rüdiger will stay very close to both.

Especially to the verdeamarelo defender, acting as his first replacement in case the Sertãozinho center-back gets injured or is suspended. The physical problems of Antonio Rüdiger himself, as reported by "OKDiario," would also have played a essential role in that decision made by the club's coaching staff.

Given the situation, Xabi Alonso has warned Antonio Rüdiger that he won't have all the minutes he enjoyed in previous seasons. Not only because of the greater urgency that comes with having Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen in top form, but also because of the difficulty posed by the Berlin defender's own situation.

Apart from his knee problems, an ailment he dragged throughout the entire 24/25 campaign, the European footballer's contract expires in about ten months. We'll see if the performance he delivers during this soccer season can change his chances of staying at Real Madrid for another season.