German defender Antonio Rüdiger, who plays for Real Madrid, defended his former Chelsea teammate, French player N'Golo Kanté, currently with Al-Ittihad, stating that his move to the Saudi league does not diminish his value or technical level.

Rüdiger said in a press statement: "Kanté returned to the French national team after joining Al-Ittihad, and just because a player goes to Saudi Arabia doesn't mean he will become a worse player," emphasizing that a player's level is not so much related to the league they play in as it is to their quality and abilities.

The German defender spoke about his former coach Thomas Tuchel, saying: "Tuchel is the best coach I have ever worked with. He has everything and changed everything at Chelsea. He is very honest and paved the way for me to succeed and play for Real Madrid. Without him, my greatest dream of playing here would not have come true."

Rüdiger also explained that he benefited from his recent time away from the spotlight, saying, "It was good to step back a little because everything I do spreads widely. I took advantage of the time to spend it with my family and children, and now I’m excited to return."

He concluded his statements by affirming his physical and mental readiness: "I know my body well, and as you get older, you need to feel comfortable before playing. Fortunately, I am ready now, and I no longer have that arrogance that some people think I have. I am always open to criticism."