Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was involved in a bizarre exchange with a reporter following Germany's win over Italy on Thursday night. Goals from Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka saw the visitors come from behind to secure a narrow victory after Sandro Tonali's early opener. Rudiger was named in the starting line-up in central defence and played the full 90 minutes.
After the final whistle, he was sought out for a post-match interview with reporters waiting for him in the mixed zone. One journalist was very eager to pick up what Rudiger was saying, moving the microphone closer to his face as he was talking. It prompted the defender to lean back to avoid being hit before stopping the interview and addressing the reporter in question.
Rudiger was seen raising his eyebrows in shock before pausing his sentence and muttering: "Are you trying to kill me?" He broke into a wry smile as he made the comment, indicating that he was not entirely serious, but it was still a strange moment.
The former Chelsea man remains a key player for Germany and is likely to feature at next year's World Cup, provided they manage to qualify. He has won 78 international caps for his country, helping them to win the Confederations Cup in 2017.
Many fans will be aware of Rudiger's quirky character from his time at Chelsea between 2017 and 2022. He won five major trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge but also developed a reputation for his odd running style.
He tends to exaggerate lifting his knees, which he alluded to while playing for Real Madrid last month. After scoring the winning penalty against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, the defender celebrated by performing his iconic running motion.
Rudiger could be on the move at the end of the season, given that he is only tied down to Real Madrid until the summer of 2026. Clubs in Saudi Arabia are said to be interested in bringing him to the Gulf state, with Al-Nassr believed to be keen admirers.
When quizzed on his future before Germany's win on Thursday night, Rudiger insisted that he did not see himself playing anywhere other than the Bernabeu.
"In football you never know, but where I am now, I am really, really happy," he said. "I am not looking forward to leave any time soon. That's it."