Like Toni Kroos: Bayern's bargain boy Rudy is the biggest surprise

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By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sebastian Rudy is the biggest surprise in the squad full of stars of 2017 German Champion Bayern Munich. As the 27-year-old joined the Bavarians from a small club such as TSG Hoffenheim, the midfielder was regarded to be not more than a useful supplement. After a remarkable preparation period and brilliant performance in the German Super Cup game against Borussia Dortmund Rudy the Berlin based tabloid "Bid" called him a bargain strategist facing a bright future.

When Bayern announced the Rudy deal, pundits and newspaper all over the country predicted Rudy wouldn't have a good chance to gain a place among the first 13 to 14 players in Munich. Now things have changed and Rudy not only surprised fellow teammates but Bayern head coach Carlo Ancelotti as well. Despite 41.5 million euro deal Corentin Tolisso (Olympique Lyon) and James Rodriguez (38 million) Rudy now is likely to be the man to close the gap left by the experienced Spanish midfield strategist Xabi Alonso.

Rudy's contract in Hoffenheim ran out, and Bayern signed him without having to pay his former club to get him. Turning up on the big stage with a successful international club such as Bayern Munich Rudy's development is evident. 2017 was Rudy's best year as he led his side as far up as to fourth place in the Bundesliga's table. With the German national team, he won the 2017 Confederation Cup in Russia and on top was Germany' s best performer.

At first glance, Rudy does not seem to fit into Bayern's squad full of stars and VIPs. His hairstyle is rather functional and usual. Looking at his teammate, Arturo Vidal Rudy, seems to have come from a bygone world. No tattoo's, no headline causing interviews, Rudy appears like the friendly and helpful boy from next door.

While he favors conservative values such as family, his regional roots and is visiting the church as often as he can, Rudy is overall ambitious on the pitch.

"My game is the game with the ball," he says. "Now I have the opportunity to play in a team that's intention is to dominate a game. That is a new experience for me, but I am looking forward to my time in Munich."

His former coach Julian Nagelsmann (TSG Hoffenheim) recently talked about Rudy's huge development in the last 12 month. Rudy, Nagelsmann said, now always wants more and constantly seems unsatisfied. No attitude does seem to address Bayern's demands better than these.

"I have discovered I want more," Rudy told German media. He is no longer a young talent, and not much does disturb him on the pitch. He tries to get his game through making the opponents follow him and not the other way around.

His good performance convinced Ancelotti to let him do Bayern's dead ball situations such as free kicks. The Italian star coach viewed Rudy's outstanding abilities and his eye for gaps in the forwarding game. Many feel reminded of former Bayern midfielder and national teammate Toni Kroos (Real Madrid). Like him, Rudy passing is excellent and precise.

Rudy emphasized to be able to deliver structure and safety to a team. Other than Tolisso and James Rudy has gained experience in the German Bundesliga for some years which seems to give him an advantage in Bayern's midfield full of stars that all try to capture a place in the starting eleven. Rudy, Ancelotti and the club leaders such as president Uli Hoeness and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge are convinced that he stands for world class short passing, can read a game, has the right feeling for speed and can react on time to rule a game. In the season 2016/2017, Rudy was according to statistics the best midfielder in the Bundesliga.

His move to Bayern will strengthen his position in the German national team as well. Shortly before the 2016 European Championships in France Rudy was sidelined by German national coach Joachim Loew. Now his big goal is the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Loew already has indicated Rudy won't be among the ones left at home this time.

When it comes to Bayern's goals this season Rudy is well behind the clubs dreams as he says he wants to win the Champions League and is excited when thinking about winning the German title.

Getting to the top will only have one disadvantage. So far Rudy was able to visit a Munich restaurant without being recognized. That, he assumed, could well be changing over the next weeks. Enditem

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