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Kepa Arrizabalaga was brought in on loan last summer by Real Madrid as a contingency plan following the injury of Thibaut Courtois
His presence provided Real Madrid with a reliable alternative, ensuring they had experienced cover in the goalkeeper position during Courtois’ absence.
However, Andriy Lunin’s rapid rise to prominence displaced Kepa from the starting lineup. The Spanish goalkeeper spent most of 2024 as a bench warmer and fell behind Lunin and Courtois in the pecking order.
As such, Real Madrid opted not to offer Kepa an extension and he returned to his parent club Chelsea after the expiration of his loan deal.
A chance for redemption?
Rumours of Lunin hitting the exit door this summer have surfaced lately, with Courtois still going strong and Lunin seeking a first-team spot elsewhere.
And the possibility of Lunin departing has provided Kepa a chance to reunite with Los Blancos once more.
Indeed, according to MARCA, Kepa is currently holding out for an opportunity with Real Madrid.
He understands that if Lunin departs, he could step in. Consequently, the 29-year-old goalkeeper is turning down all other offers for now.
He had reportedly attracted interest from major Saudi Arabian clubs offering lucrative terms. Still, the prospect of rejoining Real Madrid has led Kepa to put these other offers on hold.
Meanwhile, Chelsea appears open to Kepa’s departure. With just a year remaining on his contract and his high salary, the club is keen to offload him and reduce their wage bill. They are even willing to lower his asking price to facilitate a move to Real Madrid.
Currently, the move hinges on Lunin’s status. Time will tell if an exit materializes, as he may leverage the fact that he has only one year left on his contract.
