Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ‘delighted’ with summer signing, will hand him debut vs Celta Vigo
Real Madrid new signing Kepa Arrizabalaga will, in all likelihood, make his debut for the club this week when they face Celta Vigo in La Liga, reports MARCA.
Los Blancos were forced to dive into the market for a new goalkeeper earlier this month after first-choice custodian Thibaut Courtois ruptured his ACL.
Real Madrid scoured the market for options before narrowing in on Kepa as their preferred choice, with the Spanish international arriving on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Real Madrid ‘delighted’ with Kepa
Having arrived just before the game against UD Almeria, Kepa was deprived of his debut last weekened, with Carlo Ancelotti sticking with Andriy Lunin in goal.
And even though the Ukrainian impressed in the game, all signs point towards Kepa now starting against Celta Vigo on Friday night away at the Balaidos.
The report states that Real Madrid have been delighted with whatever they have seen from the 28-year-old new recruit in training so far.
The coaching staff has been impressed by Kepa’s technical abilities as well as physical attributes during his short time at the club.
And, unless there are no unforeseen turnarounds, the Chelsea loanee is all set to make his debut for Real Madrid against Celta Vigo.
An alternate report from Javi Herraez of SER adds that Kepa will be the Merengues’ first-choice goalkeeper in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League moving forward, with Lunin returning to his role as the backup.
Having come close to signing for Real Madrid back in 2018, Kepa is now all set to realise his dream and make his debut for the Spanish capital club.
Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid defender Rafa Obrador opens up on decision to leave: ‘Didn’t think twice’
During the summer of 2025, Real Madrid parted ways with one of their young academy talents in Rafa Obrador, selling him to SL Benfica.
The deal came as a part of the operation that saw the Los Blancos sign a former academy propsect, Alvaro Carreras, to strengthen the left-back position.
Obrador talks Real Madrid
Obrador joined the Real Madrid youth academy in the summer of 2020, signing from RCD Mallorca, a decision that he explained in a recent interview, was far from easy.
“It was a very difficult decision, because Mallorca had made me an offer that I did not like. After speaking with my agent and my family, we thought the best thing for my development was to go to Real Madrid,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“Going from an island to a city like Madrid was a very big change, especially because I went alone and was still a minor. I spent two years living at the Madrid residence. At first it was difficult, but over time I adapted.”
Obrador never made a senior appearance for Real Madrid but was a regular for Castilla, having featured 68 times for the reserve team, in which he even registered six assists.
However, the chance of joining a club like Benfica, where he could get an opportunity to play first-team football was too difficult to turn down for the 22-year-old left-back.
“When Benfica called me, I did not think twice. It was a great opportunity. Every player’s dream is to play in the Champions League, and Benfica always compete in Europe. It is a giant club,” he said.
The move, however, did not pan out as expected for Obrador as he made only one senior appearance for the Portuguese giants, before being loaned out to Torino in January earlier this year.
Upon returning to the club in the summer, he was once again farmed out on loan, this time to Sassuolo.
Adapting to Italian football
Obrador discussed his experience in Serie A and what he expects from his time at Sassuolo.
“Serie A has a very important history and I think I can adapt well here. Italian football is very physical and demanding, but I really like the idea Sassuolo have: keeping the ball, playing calmly and finding spaces,” he said.
“For me, as a full-back, it also asks me to play a little more inside, not just like the typical full-back who stays close to the touchline. They want us to be versatile and able to offer different options to the team,” Obrador concluded.
