This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Antonio Rudiger is one of the most controversial players in football today and, this Monday, during the launch of the second leg of the Champions League against Manchester City, reignited the controversy surrounding the incident with Diego Rico, a player from Getafe, which occurred two weeks ago in a La Liga match. The German international accused his opponent of exaggerating and seeking attention after being hit in the face by the knee of the German center-back. "When I saw the slow-motion images, it’s terrible (…), but I didn’t kill him, I don’t think it’s necessary to exaggerate, because if I wanted to 'kill him', he wouldn’t get up again," stated the center-back. Rudiger's response comes following Diego Rico's statements to radio Cope, in which the Getafe player claimed that the Real Madrid defender hit him "on purpose" to "break" his face. Rico added that if the situation were reversed, he would have been sent off and suspended for 10 games. The German player admitted the severity of his tackle but denied any intention to hurt. "I know I went in hard, we talked about it after the game, but freezing a moment doesn’t show everything. It was never my intention to hurt him," he explained. "I like to be tough, but I have limits that I don’t cross," he added, considering that his rival "exaggerated." "It’s as if he needed to be the star. Why wasn’t he sent off?" he criticized. Interestingly, after using the verb "kill" to describe the situation, Rudiger called for verbal moderation. "We need to be careful with the words we say, with what is happening in the world," he concluded on the topic.
Antonio Rudiger Manchester City remains central to this story.
Antonio Rudiger Manchester City remains central to this story.
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