Antonio Rudiger described the prospect of playing under Carlo Ancelotti as an "honour" after leaving Chelsea to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, as he targeted winning another Champions League title.
Rudiger signed a four-year contract with Madrid earlier this month, with his and Aurelien Tchouameni's arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu already making for a significant transfer window.
He joins a side which has just won La Liga and the Champions League – the latter for a record-extending 14th time, while boss Ancelotti became the first coach to be crowned European champion on four occasions with last month's final win over Liverpool.
Rudiger, who was instrumental as Chelsea won European football's premier competition in 2021, believes working under the Italian can help him reach those heights once more.
"It's an honour to play for Carlo Ancelotti," he told the club's website. "I'm convinced I can still learn a lot from him, and I hope he can help me win another Champions League here.
"The manager has played a big part in this [transfer]. After I spoke to him, I was convinced I wanted to join Real Madrid. But in general, everything this club represents is evident.
"I've always said that the Champions League is Real Madrid's competition, because that's where you see the club's real side.
"I'm very grateful to be here. It's like I'm dreaming, but this is real, and I feel immense pleasure to be here. I've never seen anything like this before."
Rudiger, who has won 53 caps for Germany, also revealed it was not international team-mate Toni Kroos that advised him to move to the Santiago Bernabeu, but Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who made 109 appearances during a four-year spell with the Spanish giants.
"I haven't spoken to Kroos too much about Real Madrid, I've spoken to Mateo Kovacic and he's told me a lot of things," Rudiger added. "He talked a lot about [Madrid and Croatia's Luka] Modric.
"He told me: 'You go there and enjoy it, it's a great move for you'. I've never heard a bad word about Real Madrid."
Rudiger has also been in touch with another former Blancos star since making the move to Spain, namely Brazil's legendary 2002 World Cup hero Ronaldo Nazario.
"Ronaldo played in the 2002 final against Germany sporting a very distinctive haircut," the defender recalled. "When we were kids playing football in the street, Ronaldo was our idol.
"When I signed, I spoke to him on a video call. I was excited and very nervous at the same time!"
Norwich sign defender Shane Duffy from Fulham
Norwich have signed Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy from Fulham on a three-year contract.
The 31-year-old, capped 55 times by his country, made five Premier League appearances for Fulham during the 2022-23 season.
Norwich boss David Wagner told the club’s official website: “We’re delighted to welcome Shane to the club. He’s a player with a vast amount of experience, both domestically and on the international stage.
“I’m confident that he’ll be a great fit for our squad and brings not only the on-field qualities that we have been looking for, but leadership and desire to help drive our club forward.
“From my conversations with Shane, his vision was clear. You can feel that determination and hunger to play and win football games.”
Duffy began his career in England at Everton and had spells at Blackburn and Brighton before a loan move to Fulham last summer was made permanent in the January transfer window.
Dundee bring in Charlie Reilly from Albion Rovers on two-year deal
Dundee have confirmed the signing of Charlie Reilly from Albion Rovers on a two-year contract.
The 21-year-old was recently named PFA Scotland League 2 Player of the Year and was on the shortlist for the players’ and Scottish Football Writers’ young player awards.
Reilly hit 24 goals and provided 19 assists in 43 games last season despite Rovers finishing bottom of the table and losing their league status.
The former Hamilton and Partick Thistle player was training with Dundee last season while playing for Rovers.
He told the club’s website: “I am delighted to get it over the line, it’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to get started.
“The club felt right for me, I’ve been in training for a long time and the boys were good with me and it just felt right.
“Being in at the club for training last season helped massively while I was at Albion. It helped me a lot fitness wise and in a lot of other ways too.
“I’ve had good conversations with the gaffer and he’s shown belief in me, he knows what I can do. I’m really excited to work with him and to get started.”
Manager Tony Docherty added: “I have worked with Charlie previously and have seen him in action. I was impressed with him, with his ability and athleticism. The numbers and nominations he got last season speak volumes about him.
“I know I’m getting a player with talent and an eye for goal, but I know I’m getting a player with the right attitude. He’s committed to the club, moving up to the area, which is a big thing for me.
“I think he’s a player when the Dundee fans see him in full flow they will really enjoy watching him. I am delighted that he has chosen to sign for us.”
Jude Bellingham to become the eighth Brit to play for Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham looks set to become a Real Madrid player after the Spanish club agreed an £88.5million fee with Borussia Dortmund.
The England international will join a small but esteemed set of British players to play for Los Blancos.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at those players from these shores to have played at the Bernabeu.
Laurie Cunningham
England international Cunningham was the trailblazer for those that followed him after becoming the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid after signing from West Brom in 1979. The left winger brought plenty of excitement to the fans and after scoring on his debut, went on to win the league and cup double in his first season. His time at the Bernabeu was hampered by injuries and he left to join Marseille in 1984, having scored 20 goals in 66 appearances. He was sadly killed six years later in a car crash, aged just 33, while playing for Raya Vallecano.
Steve McManaman (1999-2003)
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Twenty years after Cunningham, Steve McManaman followed as he joined from Liverpool. The floppy-haired winger played in one of the great Madrid teams alongside the likes of Raul, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, winning two LaLiga titles and two Champions League titles, scoring in the 2000 final against Valencia. He made over 150 appearances and moved to Manchester City in 2003, where he spent two years before retiring in 2005.
David Beckham (2003-2007)
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Already a global superstar, David Beckham’s footballing image went to the next level when he signed for Madrid in 2003. Although his time in the Spanish capital was not the silverware haul he enjoyed at Manchester United, winning just one league title, he was a fan favourite. He made 155 appearances, scored 20 goals and notched 59 assists before moving to LA Galaxy in 2007.
Michael Owen (2005-2006)
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Given Michael Owen’s relationship with Beckham for the England national team, an £8million move for the striker seemed good business in 2005. But Owen never really took off in Madrid and spent the majority of his one season at the club on the bench. He was able to score when he was on the pitch, most memorably a fine goal in a 4-2 win over Barcelona. He left for Newcastle in 2006.
Jonathan Woodgate (2005-07)
The fact that Woodgate has been voted as Real Madrid’s worst signing of the 21st century by readers of a Spanish newspaper tells you how his time at the club went. He joined Owen in swapping England for Spain in the summer of 2004 but was injured at the time and did not make an appearance until September 2005. That went about as well as expected as he scored an own goal and was sent off. He managed just 14 appearances in three years due to more injury woe and he left the Bernabeu being remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Gareth Bale (2013-2022)
Bale was the hottest property in Europe when he joined Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 and his career at the Bernabeu speaks for itself. He won four Champions League titles, one LaLiga title, one Copa Del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups and three European Super Cups. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances, often vying for the spotlight with Cristiano Ronaldo, before it turned sour at the end of his stay, where his relationship with boss Zinedine Zidane and the fans was frosty at best.
Caroline Weir (2022-Present)
Weir became the first British woman – and first Scot – to play for Real Madrid when she signed on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer. The attacker enjoyed a successful debut season in the Spanish capital, scoring 15 goals, while also knocking her former side out of the Women’s Champions League.
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