Because Real Madrid do not intend to sell any of their core first team members, it will be very interesting to keep an eye on the case of the one player that could be departing the club this summer: Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian stopper has been heavily linked with a move away during the transfer window, and when he was recently quizzed on the subject, he appeared to add fuel to the fire.
Lunin was fantastic for Real Madrid last season, having deputised in the absence of Thibaut Courtois, who suffered back-to-back serious knee injuries. His performances played a big role in Los Blancos winning La Liga and the Champions League, although it won’t be enough for him to nail down the no.1 spot going forward.
Barring any more injury problems, Courtois will be Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice ‘keeper for next season, meaning that Lunin would be forced to return to the bench. However, he wants to continue playing, meaning that a departure is very possible. In recent weeks, he’s been linked with the Premier League – more specifically, Arsenal and Liverpool.
If Lunin does leave, the expectation is that Real Madrid would aim to re-sign Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was at the club last season. He was originally signed as Courtois’ replacement in the summer of 2023, but Lunin’s excellent performances saw him take the starting spot from November onwards.
Given that Courtois is 32, and off the back of two serious injuries in the space of 12 months, there’s no doubt that Real Madrid will view Lunin as his long-term successor. However, if the latter does push for an exit, that plan would go up in smoke, and club bosses would need to consider an alternative.
Los Blancos do have options from within, with the most obvious being Fran Gonzalez. At 19, Fran is a candidate to succeed Courtois in the long-term, and he is highly valued at Real Madrid. He’s been in the first team fold regularly over the last 12 months, although it would be too soon for him to be Courtois’ backup. He’d also need to mature quickly if he were to take over as no.1 when Courtois steps aside – a loan move or two may be needed to help with that.
Real Madrid could also sign a long-term Courtois successor now, instead of picking up Courtois. Fichajes have linked them with Porto’s Diogo Costa, although that would be a surprising move, given the expected cost. He’s a fantastic ‘keeper, but Courtois would still continue as number one – and that’s a lot of money to spend on someone that may not play for 2-3 years at least.
The obvious short-term solution for Real Madrid is to re-sign Kepa, and it’s a solid move. He’s a capable backup, as was shown last season. The issue that faces club bosses is the identify of Courtois’ successor, as it would not be entirely obvious if Lunin does leave. It’s something that would need to be addressed.
Quiero jugar en el Real Madrid a los 15 años, rápido