Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea
Real Madrid have officially confirmed that they have secured the signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.
“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,” the official statement from the club read.
Following the serious injury sustained by Thibaut Courtois before the start of the season, Real Madrid jumped into the market for a new goalkeeper.
After looking at several options, including David de Gea and Yassine Bounou, Los Blancos settled on Kepa as their preferred target.
The 28-year-old was on his way to Bayern Munich at that time but made a U-turn after learning Real Madrid’s interest.
And, now, the Spanish international has secured a season-long loan move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
It has been reported that the agreement will not contain a purchase clause while Real Madrid would be paying Chelsea a nominal loan fee worth €1 million.
The goalkeeper will be presented in front of the media as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday.
Real Madrid News
Bellingham reacts after Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin: “Every day I’m very grateful to be here”
Just over a month into the 2023/24 season, Jude Bellingham is already the toast of the town in Madrid.
Indeed, the 20-year-old midfield prodigy has made a sensational start to life as a Real Madrid player and the story continued last night on his UEFA Champions League debut for the club.
With the game against Union Berlin seemingly headed towards a draw, Bellingham found himself in the right place at the right time to turn home a late winner in stoppage time and send the Santiago Bernabeu into a state of frenzy.
The England international is making it a habit of scoring late winners for Real Madrid and is basking in all the admiration that is coming his way.
Following yet another match-winning performance, which led to him being named the MVP of the game, Bellingham spoke to the club’s media and said:
“It was a good win. It was a tough match, they were very well-organised at the back. It was frustrating at times, but we knew we had to keep insisting and try to find those gaps.
“We missed a lot of chances, but in the end, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time to score.”
On his dream start to life at Real Madrid with six goals in six games, Bellingham said: “I am very happy. Every day I am very grateful to be here. I come with a smile on my face, happy to learn from my teammates and to keep winning. Winning is the most important objective here.”
“I didn’t expect a start like this. I was confident in doing things well and, so far, it’s going very well. I’ve got my feet firmly on the ground and I’m calm. I hope it continues like this,” he later added.
The 20-year-old sensation also opened up on the goal he scored last night to win it for Los Blancos against Union Berlin, saying:
“I thought I had to follow the ball, just like against Getafe. They’re not aesthetic goals, but you have to be there to score them. Now it’s my turn to take advantage of those moves, but we’re a team and we help each other with the moves. That’s key.”
Talking about the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu on a Champions League night, Bellingham could not hide his joy at experiencing it as he said:
“It’s the best. I thought La Liga was going really well until I heard the noise after the goal. I’m crazy about the support of the fans. You don’t know how big this club is until you are part of it. Hopefully, I’ll be here for many years to come.”
Signing off, he had a few words about Real Madrid’s start to the season, with six wins in six games across all competitions, saying:
“It’s the most important thing. At the beginning of the season, we would have signed it. We have to maintain this level and carry this rhythm into the next game. We all have to continue with this level of play because we have a lot of games ahead of us.”
