German international Antonio Rudiger has shared his thoughts on Italian football, identifying the top defender in the country and expressing his happiness at reuniting with his former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti. Rudiger credits Spalletti for bringing out the best in him during his time in Italy.

As Germany prepares to face Italy in the Nations League quarter-finals, Rudiger reflected on his experience in Italian football. Having spent two years at Roma from 2015 to 2017, the defender has a unique perspective on the upcoming match.

“I’m excited to play at San Siro, a stadium with such history,” Rudiger stated in a press conference. “The rivalry between Germany and Italy is long-standing and intense.”

Rudiger spoke warmly of his time under Spalletti at Roma: “I’m delighted to see him again. He was crucial in my development as a young player from Germany. While I look forward to our reunion, my focus is on winning with my team.”

Rudiger’s Assessment of Italian Defenders

When asked about the current crop of Italian defenders, Rudiger praised Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni: “In recent years, Bastoni has shown consistent improvement and has become a true leader at Inter. Without a doubt, he is currently the best defender in Italy.”

Rudiger also mentioned Riccardo Calafiori, now at Arsenal, whom he knew from Roma’s youth team. “Calafiori has a bright future ahead of him,” Rudiger added.

Reflecting on his own career, Rudiger emphasized the importance of his time in Italy: “I learned a great deal about defending in Serie A. The Italian lifestyle and cuisine also left a lasting impression on me.”

When asked about the possibility of returning to Serie A, Rudiger remained open but content with his current situation at Real Madrid: “In football, you can never say never, but I’m very happy where I am now.”

As the Nations League match approaches, Rudiger acknowledged the tournament’s significance: “While it may not be on par with the World Cup, winning the Nations League is still important for us, especially given Germany’s recent performances in international competitions.”