Overview

• The center-back says his animated celebrations in the Champions League last-16 tie against Atlético Madrid were meant to be fun and a response to opposing fans’ jeers.
• UEFA fined him €40,000 and handed him a one-match suspended ban for the Madrid incidents.
• In the Spanish Cup final against Barcelona he threw a cooling pack at the referee, resulting in a six-match suspension in domestic competitions.
• He is wrapping up rehabilitation from knee surgery and could make his comeback this weekend in the Club World Championship.
• Rüdiger cited Toni Kroos’s retirement as a leadership loss and urged new signings like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen to assert themselves immediately at Real Madrid.