Real Madrid News
Real Madrid looking for an heir to key player as club believe 24-year-old star will not continue
What Real Madrid celebrates as its biggest successes today may well become tomorrow’s problems. The team’s current situation in goal appears set to head along the same lines.
The Merengues appeared stranded in no-man’s land when Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL injury early in the season.
Andriy Lunin and on-loan star Kepa Arrizabalaga, however, stepped up their game and have both made strong cases to serve as the team’s starting option.
The root of a bigger issue
With three potential starting options next season, Los Blancos’ riches may well turn out to be their biggest bane. After all, it will be close to impossible to keep all three players satisfied with a regular role.
The Merengues are not expected to sign Kepa permanently next summer for a number of reasons. Andriy Lunin, meanwhile, poses a set of challenges of his own.
As revealed by AS, Real Madrid are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper, as the heir to Thibaut Courtois.
They believe that Lunin will no longer agree to continue as a backup for the Belgian international after his recent form, forcing the men in white back into the market to find a successor for the injured first-choice custodian.
A market opportunity?
Lunin’s great form in goal has solved many of Carlo Ancelotti’s problems this season. The youngster has outperformed even the experienced Kepa and is now a strong contender to continue as the team’s first-choice keeper this season.
A departure in the summer, however, is likely after his impressive growth for he deserves a starting spot at a top European club.
Heading into the transfer market, Real Madrid can thus hope to use Lunin’s situation to their advantage.
The 24-year-old’s contract at the club ends in 2025, giving the club some leverage over his future.
Needless to say, the men in white can hope to recoup a significant sum from his eventual transfer and invest the same in positions in need of signings.
Real Madrid News
Barcelona director happy to see Mourinho back at Real Madrid: ‘One of the best coaches in history’
During his appearance at the Portugal Football Summit, organised by the Portuguese Football Federation, FC Barcelona sporting director Deco hailed Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as ‘one of the best coaches in history’.
The 49-year-old former midfielder played under Mourinho at FC Porto, making over 100 appearances and winning several trophies, including the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Deco happy to see Mourinho at Real Madrid
Addressing the media, the Barcelona sporting director insisted that he was happy to see his former mentor being back in La Liga, even if it was at a rival club.
“It’s good to have him in the Spanish League, as an opponent he’s more complicated, but I’m happy,” said Deco, as quoted by AS.
Praising Mourinho as well as hailing Real Madrid as one of the best clubs in the world, the Barça sporting director added:
“I’m happy for him, because I think he’s one of the best coaches in history, he’s at Real Madrid, with the best clubs in the world, it’s good, it’s a great challenge for everyone.”
On Real Madrid’s refereeing complaints
During the interaction, Deco was also asked for his thoughts about the refereeing in La Liga and the complaints being made by Mourinho and Real Madrid, especially after their recent 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Instead of directly addressing the matter, the Barça director insisted that they were only focused on themselves, while stating that the referees and the VAR are bound to make some mistakes every now and then.
“It doesn’t worry us. I think we have to look at ourselves,” he said.
“Obviously, there will always be controversial refereeing decisions, there will always be favorable decisions, sometimes for one team and sometimes for the other, and sometimes I don’t think it’s proportional.”
Continuing, he added: “I think it’s something that referees lose; it can happen at any time. There’s VAR, which came to correct many things, but at the same time, sometimes it doesn’t.
“In short, controversial refereeing decisions will continue to exist; it’s a historical thing in Spain, in Italy, and everywhere. In short, we’re not going to be the ones to end up changing this.
“I think transparency, that things are clear, is always important, but I don’t get involved in that. We at Barcelona look at ourselves. We’re always going to do what’s within our reach, try to improve every day. I can’t comment on what happens on the other side.”
