German international defender Christoph Metzelder, who has had three injury-ravaged years with Real Madrid, is to return to the Bundesliga with Schalke 04, the club said on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old signed a deal with Schalke, currently second in the Bundesliga, from the start of next season until June 2013, following talks in Berlin with coach Felix Magath.
No mention was made of a transfer fee.
Metzelder’s contract with the Spanish giants would have expired at the end of the season and his fitness problems mean he has not held down a regular place since his 2007 arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
Wolfsburg were another German club reportedly interested in bringing him home.
Metzelder has won 47 caps for Germany and played in the final of the 2008 European Championship, losing 1-0 to Spain.
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