Kepa Arrizabalaga

[OneMoSalah 8,785]

2 hours ago, Vesper said:

Mamar (for the 100th time, lolol)

Not been any links since early window though. And even before Sanchez deal seemed very very quiet, he was linked a lot more to Bayern and wouldn’t be surprised if that materialises now Kepa gone to Real.

Although lot going around re Bayern reportedly wanting De Gea m? But would of thought long term move to replace Neuer be more traditional with how Bayern usually do things.

Either way we need to get a move on and get a top quality GK in as Sanchez isn’t the answer. As a number 1 anyway. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by OneMoSalah

[Vesper 29,022]

 

[Vegetable 830]

2 hours ago, Vesper said:

 

Not like he dominated the PL and achieved everything possible to "Want a challange". Of course, he is trying to walk himself a permanent move and this loan is good for him and could be good for us, had we gotten top GK, but Lunin is decent and Courtois isn't really going anywhere, so if it won't work his return will be awkward AF. Hopefully he will made himself good PR in less demanding goal and we will be able to move on, as however pity, I don't really see much future for him here.

[Vesper 29,022]

Real Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga to be their No 1 – now he’s lost his place

https://theathletic.com/5278190/2024/02/16/real-madrid-arrizabalaga-lunin-Chelsea/

Who is Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper?

A month ago, we asked that very question in an article on the club’s choice between Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Now, the answer seems clear. Lunin is leading the way.

This represents quite a turnaround from the situation in the summer, when Arrizabalaga was brought in on loan from Chelsea — right after Madrid’s long-time goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury — to be Carlo Ancelotti’s number one for the remainder of the campaign.

On the day of his presentation as a Madrid player on August 15, Arrizabalaga was glowing, super-happy and having turned down an offer from serial German champions Bayern Munich to take up the opportunity in his native Spain.

When he was asked whether his goal was to convince Madrid to decide to keep him beyond his loan spell, he replied: “I hope so. Today is the first day, we’ll see, but hopefully with my performance I can make that happen.”

Six months on, that possibility is looking remote.

---

When Courtois was ruled out on August 10, two days before Madrid’s first La Liga match of the season, some voices at the club believed it was Lunin’s time because it would be complicated to bring in another top-level goalkeeper.

But Madrid moved quickly — very quickly — to get Arrizabalaga on board. Lunin started the first two league games, but the Chelsea loanee took over as soon as he’d had a chance to settle in.

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“Kepa’s level is very high,” Ancelotti said at the time. “Lunin lacks a bit of experience. They won’t rotate much.”

Starting with his Madrid debut on August 25, Arrizabalaga played 13 games in a row: 10 in La Liga and three in the Champions League, conceding 10 goals and keeping six clean sheets. He made some good saves, including an important stop in the October 28 Clasico in Barcelona, where Madrid came from behind to win 2-1.

Other performances had perhaps not fully convinced, such as October’s away games against Sevilla in La Liga and Napoli in the Champions League, but the coaching staff were happy with him. Kepa and his family were happy too, and his wife even posted a photo in which she seemed to say goodbye to London for good, five years after his move to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao.

But then Arrizabalaga was injured in the warm-up before the home Champions League match against Sporting Braga on November 8. Coaching staff sources — who, like all those cited here preferred to speak anonymously to protect their position — describe it as the “turning point” that saw the balance changed between the two goalkeepers.

Lunin came into the team and saved a crucial penalty that night when what became a 3-0 Madrid win was still goalless. Despite barely having warmed up, he seized his moment and reignited the debate over who should be the club’s starter.

Then Arrizabalaga ended up being out for longer than the two-match absence that was initially expected. He eventually missed four games either side of the November international break, as Ancelotti continued to insist publicly that he was first-choice. “If he is ready, Kepa will play,” he said on November 27. But when the Basque was back fit a few days later, he found himself on the bench not the pitch.

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Just before Christmas, Ancelotti said, “I don’t have the idea of rotating goalkeepers. Both are doing well. Lunin has progressed a lot and has shown a lot of confidence and Kepa has maintained his level… in the second part of the season, I will choose one of the two.”

Since suffering that injury before the Braga match three months ago, however, Arrizabalaga has played just five times — once in the Champions League, twice in La Liga, once in the Copa del Rey (against fourth-tier Arandina) and most recently in the Supercopa de Espana.

That last appearance, in the January 10 semi-final against neighbours Atletico, might perhaps be seen as another turning point.

Madrid were 5-3 winners after extra time but Arrizabalaga faced some criticism for his role in the goals conceded, and Lunin was preferred for the final against Barcelona four days later, where Madrid triumphed 4-1.

In the next league match the following weekend, Ancelotti turned back to Arrizabalaga, but again he looked far from his best as Almeria raced into a 2-0 half-time lead in the Bernabeu, with a third goal ruled out by the VAR, before Madrid eventually came back to win 3-2, thanks to a few more controversial refereeing decisions.

Lunin, who turned 25 this week, has been selected to start the five matches since.

Ancelotti has not wanted to publicly clarify who his preferred goalkeeper is, but Arrizabalaga was a spectator from the dugout again as his Ukraine international team-mate performed to his very best in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory away to RB Leipzig in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 tie.

“Kepa’s injury opened up the possibility of Lunin challenging for his place, and he has won the game. Lunin has convinced with his play,” say coaching staff sources, who see the process as something natural and simple.

Sources in the dressing room say the 29-year-old loanee is close with Lunin, describing him as “an exemplary team-mate, as if he were the one who was playing every game”. When Arrizabalaga found himself in a similar situation at Chelsea, in the 2022-23 season, Edouard Mendy was the starter ahead of him and similar things were said of his disposition.

Arrizabalaga’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of next season. This summer might be the best chance for the London club to seek a sale, but as previously reported by The Athletic, Madrid signing him then is highly unlikely given Chelsea would ask for around €20million (£17.1m; $21.5m) — a figure the La Liga side would not pay for a backup goalkeeper.

Lunin now looks established as Ancelotti’s pick, although Arrizabalaga could well return to the starting XI and further impress before the season is out if an opportunity arises.

In the meantime, he has continued training, convinced that he is ready to play and be a starter, although those close to him are no longer sure that he will remain in Madrid.

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[NikkiCFC 8,058]

2 Champions League 🏆 

 

[Fulham Broadway 16,923]

- will be able to leave for just €6 million next summer, according to  reports. 74m loss 🥲

The Spaniard, still the world's most expensive goalkeeper ever, is spending the season out on loan at Bournemouth

[Fernando 6,488]

On 09/11/2024 at 15:14, Fulham Broadway said:

- will be able to leave for just €6 million next summer, according to  reports. 74m loss 🥲

The Spaniard, still the world's most expensive goalkeeper ever, is spending the season out on loan at Bournemouth

All under Roman not Todd and company. 

[NikkiCFC 8,058]

5 hours ago, Fernando said:

All under Roman not Todd and company. 

People didn't like Kepa costing us 2 or 3 goals per season now enjoy GK who costs us every game. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,923]

2 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

2 or 3 goals per season

 and the rest

[NikkiCFC 8,058]

Clean sheets against Spurs, Arsenal and United 👏