World Cup 2016

Rüdiger fires back: “On social media I’m the villain — and that’s fine by me”

The Real Madrid center back in the Mannschaft answered his critics and also spoke about Schlotterbeck, Khedira and Mou.

CHUCK BURTON

Update: Jun 17th, 2026 15:59 EDT

Antonio Rüdiger stepped in front of the microphones on Wednesday during Germany’s training camp in Winston‑Salem, and the newly re‑signed Real Madrid defender didn’t hold back.

He addressed criticism of his on‑field behavior, defended his career, and weighed in on both his club situation and the state of the German national team.

“Online I’m the villain — but in real life, things are different”

Rüdiger pushed back against the narrative that he’s overly aggressive or theatrical, saying the perception is driven mostly by social media.

“In the world of social media I’m the villain, and that’s fine with me,” he said. “In Spain, certain actions get celebrated — as long as they’re not crazy and stay within reason. It happens in Germany too. I’ve had plenty of games where I made good tackles and fans chanted my name. Let social media be social media. We live in the real world.”

He added that his name seems to generate engagement: “It looks like people get a lot of clicks using my name. Sometimes bad press is still good press.”

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Rüdiger on Real Madrid, Schlotterbeck, and working with Mourinho

The Madrid center‑back also discussed his role at the club and the rumors linking German teammate Nico Schlotterbeck — as well as Sami Khedira — with a return to Real Madrid.

Real Madrid role — “Real Madrid was never a dream for me because I didn’t think I could ever reach something like that.”
Nico Schlotterbeck — “Good players are always welcome. Nico is always a threat on set pieces. He’s aggressive, competitive, and his left foot is pure gold.”
Sami Khedira — “I can’t say too much about Khedira, but I’m excited to work with Mourinho. We talked many times in the past, but it never happened. Now I’ll finally get to play for him.”

Injuries, setbacks, and Madrid’s tough stretch

Rüdiger admitted the past year was difficult physically and mentally.

“The injuries set me back. I wanted to earn my new contract. The last two years in Madrid were tough because we didn’t have much success. But players like Mbappé and Vini Jr. show up when we need them.”

THE GERMAN MACHINE IS UP AND RUNNING 🇩🇪⚙️

Germany put seven past Curaçao and announce themselves as serious contenders from day one. 😳🔥 #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CEMZsyqX90
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 14, 2026

Germany’s World Cup start: “We lifted a weight off our shoulders”

Germany opened the World Cup with a dominant 7–1 win over Curaçao. A victory Saturday against Ivory Coast would secure a spot in the round of 32.

“The pressure was really on in the first match. In the last two World Cups we couldn’t win our opener, and that was a heavy burden. Getting that first win took a weight off the team,” he concluded.