Real Madrid make final decision on Kepa Arrizabalaga

Photo: Flor Tan Jun/Getty Images

According to reports, Real Madrid have made their final decision on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Kepa joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan after an injury to Thibaut Courtois, who was to be out until the end of the season.

Kepa started out well at the Santiago Bernabeu, but has since lost his starting place to Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid’s second choice goalkeeper.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Real Madrid will not keep Kepa Arrizabalaga beyond this season.

Real Madrid have instead decided to give a new contract to Andriy Lunin.

Kepa will now be ‘back to Chelsea with [a] decision to be made on his future’.

Kepa started out well at Real Madrid this season, and was first choice at some point. However, after a series of costly errors, Carlo Ancelotti decided to stick with Lunin.

Kepa has made 18 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid, conceding 18 goals and keeping seven clean sheets.

Kepa, 29, has a contract with Chelsea which expires in 2025. The Blues paid a whopping £71.6m record fee for a goalkeeper, to sign him back in 2018.

Kepa found form early on loan at Real Madrid, with Thibaut Courtois suggesting that Chelsea will regret letting him leave.

“It seems to me that Chelsea has made a mistake with this tremendous boy, he is very good, under sticks he is among the five best in the world, for sure,” said Courtois.

That may no longer be the case, and it’s back to the drawing board for Kepa and Chelsea.