Rudiger names ‘best defender in Italy’ and thanks Spalletti | OneFootball

German international Antonio Rudiger names the ‘best defender in Italy’ and is ‘very happy’ to reunite with his old Roma coach Luciano Spalletti. ‘He brought the best out of me.’

The first leg of the Nations League quarter-final kicks off at San Siro on Thursday at 19.45 GMT, while the decider will be in Dortmund on Sunday evening.

“There is a great rivalry that goes back a long way. I can’t wait to set foot on the pitch in a stadium like San Siro,” said Rudiger in his press conference.

Of the players in the current Germany squad, Rudiger perhaps has the most experience of Italian football, spending two years at Roma from 2015 to 2017.

Curiously enough, he was coached at the time by current Italy boss Spalletti.

“I am very happy to see him again, he was a very important coach my career. He really brought the best out of me, as a young player coming from Germany.

“He taught me so much and while I’m very pleased to meet him once more, obviously I also want to beat him with my team. It’s a tough opponent, both for the quality of the players and their coach.”

Rudiger casts eye over current Italian defenders

DORTMUND, GERMANY – MARCH 18: Antonio Rudiger warms up with team mates during a Germany training session at Borussia Dortmund training ground on March 18, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

There had been reports of a potential return to Serie A for Juventus, although the 32-year-old seems content at Real Madrid under another Italian boss, Carlo Ancelotti.

“Italy was so important for me, I learned a great deal about defending, but I also loved the lifestyle, as Italy has the best food in the world,” smiled Rudiger.

“There are great clubs like Roma, Napoli, Juventus, Inter and Milan. You can never say never in football, but I am very happy where I am and not thinking about what the future holds.”

Italy has a shortage of strikers, even more so now Mateo Retegui is injured and pulled out, but continue to churn out quality defenders like Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal and Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.

“I think in recent years Bastoni has just been constantly improving and is a real leader at Inter. I knew Calafiori from my days at Roma, when he was in the youth team and had a serious injury,” added Rudiger.

“Now he is at Arsenal and has a great future ahead of him, but for now, Bastoni is without doubt the best defender in Italy. Without doubt.”

Bastoni’s Inter teammate now is Yann Bisseck, who received his first senior call-up to the Germany squad.

“He just has to be himself, I’ve been where he is now, I know it takes time and you just have to keep working on yourself. Bisseck had some experiences abroad, not all of them positive, but is now making his mark at Inter and I wish him the best.”

Considering Real Madrid’s struggles this season, Rudiger was asked if he would rather win the Champions League for his club or the Nations League with Germany?

“I will be honest, in the past I would’ve said the Champions League was more important. However, we all know that in recent years it’s not been great for Germany, fortunately the situation has changed now and we have more of a simple plan, making our football less complicated.

“Perhaps winning the Nations League isn’t the same as a World Cup, but it’s still important.”