In the realm of La Liga, the illustrious club Real Madrid has officially secured the services of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a loan basis from the English football powerhouse, Chelsea .
At 28 years old, Kepa has been brought in on a season-long loan agreement by Real Madrid. He steps in to fill the void left by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his left knee during a training session last Thursday, keeping him sidelined for several months.
Kepa celebrating a Chelsea win. Source: Getty[/figure]
The Spanish international, who made a substantial £71.6 million move from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in August 2018, will be affiliated with the Bernabeu until June of the following year. Kepa was also a target for Bayern Munich , who sought to address their own goalkeeping vacancy due to the injury of Manuel Neuer, but Real Madrid acted swiftly to secure the arrangement.
According to an official statement on Real's website:
“Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC have agreed on the loan of the player Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is linked to the club this season, until June 30, 2024.
“Over his five seasons at Chelsea, he has secured one Champions League trophy, one Club World Cup, one European Super Cup, and one Europa League title.
“He was also honored with the Premier League's best save award for the 2022/2023 season.
Kepa unveiled as Real Madrid player. Source: Getty
“Kepa is a Spanish national team player, contributing to their victory in the 2023 Nations League. He also clinched the U19 European Championship in 2012.”
It's been revealed that Real Madrid's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, initially favored acquiring Sevilla’s Moroccan talent Yassine Bounou. However, financial demands from his club and his involvement in the January Africa Cup of Nations worked against the move.
There was no consensus at the Bernabeu regarding a pursuit of David de Gea, who departed Manchester United this summer.
Kepa, who holds the distinction of being the most expensive goalkeeper in history following Chelsea's 80 million euro transaction with Athletic Bilbao, enters the realm of Real Madrid with the formidable challenge of succeeding the player widely regarded as the world's best goalkeeper.
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