Author: Monojit Mandal
Real Madrid have officially signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, on loan from Chelsea, in a strategic move following the injury to Thibaut Courtois, according to a club statement. Kepa’s arrival comes after Courtois suffered a premature ACL injury during a recent training session, causing the first-choice goalkeeper to be sidelined for seven months. Due to Courtois’ absence, reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was used in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Athletic Club on Saturday in La Liga.
Kepa’s journey to the Santiago Bernabéu was full of surprises. He was on the verge of joining Real Madrid from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018, but the club opted to sign Courtois later that year. This decision opened the door for Kepa’s high-profile transfer to Chelsea for a world record fee of 80 million euros (US$87.6 million), making him the most expensive goalkeeper in the world at the time.
Kepa has had his share of successes and setbacks while at Stamford Bridge. During his first two seasons, he was the first-choice goalkeeper, but was eventually replaced by Édouard Mendy. Kepa, on the other hand, managed to regain his starting place for most of the 2022-23 season. Chelsea’s recent signing of compatriot Robert Sánchez from Brighton as their new number one goalkeeper has cemented Kepa’s decision to seek new challenges.
Real Madrid’s search for a suitable replacement for the injured Courtois was swift and pragmatic. According to ESPN, coach Carlo Ancelotti initially considered Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou as a possible replacement. However, the financial restrictions on Bounou’s transfer and his participation in the African Cup of Nations in January led Madrid to look for other options. Despite rumors of a possible transfer for David de Gea, who left Manchester United this summer, Kepa emerged as the frontrunner due to his suitability to the team’s requirements.
Ancelotti expressed his confidence in Lunin ahead of Madrid’s LaLiga opener against Athletic, while noting the relative inexperience of the other goalkeepers at his disposal. Given the circumstances, he hinted at the possibility of a transfer, but maintained a calm demeanor, indicating that a decision would be made before the transfer window closes on August 31.