2005 Champions League hero Jerzy Dudek’s Liverpool career effectively ended the moment Rafa wisely invested in talented Spanish stopper Pepe Reina days after the Reds triumphed over AC Milan in Istanbul. For the following two years the Polish international has been trying different subs benchs around the England the Europe (apparently the Emirates ones are super comfy), and has figured in just seven Premiership games since.
With the decision to leave Liverpool made, it seems he decided against the offer from Bolton which would have meant that Dudek would either be backup yet again to Jussi Jääskeläinen or, if the Fin left the Reebok, Ian Walker. The latter would certainly call for Jerzy to pack it in and go into the restaurant business.
The Polish international was linked to Recreativo, Bolton and Manchester City, but was always keen on trying his hand in Spain.
Bernd Schuster gave the green light to complete the deal after officially taking the reins at the Bernabéu earlier this week.
Madrid have been after a new keeper following the sale of highly-rated youth team product Diego López to Villarreal for €6m last month.
Dudek was released by Liverpool after six seasons on Merseyside as he was unable to earn a regular place in the team ahead of José Reina.
Having spent the last two seasons playing second fiddle to one Madrid-born custodian, Dudek will now perform the same task in the Spanish captial itself.
Casillas is the undoubted number one, but the club’s technical staff wanted experienced cover rather than to promote a keeper from their youth team.
So now he gets to spend his free time not playing football, getting paid a lot, and hanging out in the Spanish sun? Whoever said that being a reserve goalkeeper was difficult needs to have a spoon inserted into his rectum. Then again, no one has ever said that.