Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Spanish goalkeeper, recently disclosed how he came close to joining Bayern Munich before opting for a move to Real Madrid.
Kepa’s journey to the Spanish capital was marked by twists and turns, ultimately leading to him wearing the white jersey of Real Madrid.
The opportunity for Kepa to make a significant career move arose due to an injury to Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, which opened the door for Kepa Arrizabalaga to complete a loan move to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, prior to this, Kepa had seriously considered joining Bayern Munich and even had discussions with their coach, Thomas Tuchel. This decision was driven by his desire for a fresh start, despite Mauricio Pochettino’s assurances that he would be the primary goalkeeper at Chelsea.
Kepa explained, “It’s true that Pochettino wanted me to stay and he told me that I was going to play, that he trusted me, but I thought that a change would be good for me, I wanted a change. Thomas Tuchel called me. We were close to going to Munich… When Madrid calls you, everything changes. My signing was closed in just a few hours and a couple of calls.”
Kepa’s move to Real Madrid has been promising, as he has conceded only two goals in four league games, showcasing his talents between the posts. The Spaniard has expressed his desire to continue with Real Madrid beyond his loan spell, emphasizing his deep attachment to the club, stating, “I really hope Real Madrid will keep me at the end of the season… Everything about this club is spectacular.”
However, Kepa faces a challenging task in convincing Real Madrid to extend his stay when Thibaut Courtois returns to action next year, unless he is willing to accept a role as the backup goalkeeper. Nevertheless, in the short term, Kepa is the preferred choice as the goalkeeper ahead of Andriy Lunin and will have ample opportunities to prove his worth during the current campaign.
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