Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga confirmed he turned down Bayern Munich to pen a one-year loan deal with Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old temporarily leaves Stamford Bridge to fill a void left by an ex-Blues shot-stopper. A serious knee injured sustained by Thibaut Courtois forced the 14-time European champions to delve into the summer transfer window for a credible replacement.
? @kepa_46 ?#WelcomeKepa pic.twitter.com/Mf6cwuzvBo
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 15, 2023
Bayern were also in the market for a goalkeeper following news Manuel Neuer is still recovering from surgery that he underwent after breaking his leg in a skiing accident.
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“These days have been intense, to put it that way. But when I had the proposal from Madrid, I was clear,” Kepa told a press conference when asked if he turned down an offer from Bayern, reportedly in negotiations with him, when Real got in contact.
The decision was very easy. It’s true that I had other proposals from important clubs, but when this option was communicated to me… everything was very fast,” he added.
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Since moving to West London in 2018 for a world-record £71m fee paid for a goalkeeper. The former Athletic Bilbao man has been in and out of Chelsea’s first team. At one point the Spaniard lost his spot to Édouard Mendy before regaining it last season during which he kept nine Premier League clean sheets across 28 appearances though it wasn’t enough to convince observers that he will be their number one under Mauricio Pochettino.