Rafael van der Vaar (foto: Getty Images)
Rafael van der Vaart launched a scathing attack on Antonio Rüdiger after the Real Madrid defender’s chaotic outburst during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey final triumph.
Barcelona claimed their 32nd Copa del Rey title with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Real Madrid in a chaotic El Clasico final.
Pedri gave Barcelona the lead before Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni turned the match in Real Madrid's favor early in the second half. But Ferran Torres equalized late, and Jules Koundé sealed the win in the 116th minute.
Antonio Rüdiger lost control in the final moments, throwing a bottle toward the referee and earning a red card from the bench. The furious defender had to be restrained by coaching staff to prevent him from entering the pitch.
Rafael van der Vaart did not hold back in his post-match analysis, tearing into Rüdiger’s behavior: "Antonio Rüdiger is a mental patient. Sometimes he's a funny guy, and sometimes he's an idiot. Today he was an idiot," said the Dutch legend.
Van der Vaart had already criticized Rüdiger earlier this season. Recalling an incident during their time in Germany, he said: "He played in Stuttgart when I was in Germany. He kicked me in the stomach and immediately got a red card... He's a bit of an idiot."
Rüdiger’s controversies continue:
The German defender also faced backlash after stepping on Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri during Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final elimination. Now, Rüdiger is in hot water again, facing a major fine for insulting and throwing an object at the referee during the Copa del Rey final.