Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set an €8 million price tag for 24-year-old first-team star
According to MARCA, Real Madrid have slapped a price tag of €8 million against Andriy Lunin’s name.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper’s future has been in doubt for a while now, but it is clear that Los Blancos aim to recoup some compensation from his departure.
A confirmed departure, but when?
The shot-stopper has been staring at the exit door for a while now, albeit with two serious options to choose from.
Lunin is in the final year of his contract and there is no renewal in sight. The player, for his part, is willing to see out his contract with Los Blancos before leaving as a free agent next summer.
However, an immediate exit is still an option and the Merengues hope to push for the same. In any case, their decision to put a price tag of €8 million may not fare well with potential suitors.
Starved for game time
Lunin has found it difficult to see game time at Real Madrid since his arrival.
With Thibaut Courtois rooted in the starting lineup, it is seemingly impossible for him to push for a place on the field.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper made just seven La Liga appearances for the first team last season but conceded as many goals, while averaging 1.7 saves per game and overseeing three clean sheets in that duration.
With his Belgian counterpart facing fitness troubles, Lunin played 90 minutes against both AC Milan and Manchester United in the ongoing pre-season tour. With Courtois back in action, his prominence will see an inevitable fall.
Is a replacement signing needed?
Courtois’ fitness has been relatively uncertain in recent times. The veteran goalkeeper is the best in the business but inevitably finds himself injured sporadically through the season.
On that front, it seems necessary that Los Blancos maintain a solid backup option.
And if Lunin is to leave, Real Madrid could thus reactivate the option of signing David Soria from Getafe or move for a different goalkeeper with experience under his belt.
Real Madrid were sent in a state of worry last night as their defensive options appeared to have fully diminished.
With Eder Militao already out on the sidelines, Los Blancos lost David Alaba to an injury in the first half of their game against Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It left Carlo Ancelotti with just two frontline senior centre-backs in Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez.
And by the end of the match, Rudiger was seen limping even though he played the entire 90 minutes.
Rudiger’s knock not serious
The sight of the German being in discomfort raised some concerns. But now, journalist Melchor Ruiz of COPE has provided a positive update on Rudiger’s situation which will come as a relief for Real Madrid fans.
As per the update, Rudiger was put through tests today and the results show that his condition is nothing to be concerned about.
All signs point towards the former Chelsea ace being available to play against La Liga leaders Girona on Saturday away at Montilivi.
This comes as a big relief for Los Blancos who would have been left with Nacho as the last man standing in the centre-back department if Rudiger too was injured.
What did Ancelotti say?
Speaking after the 2-0 win over Las Palmas last night, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had indicated that Rudiger’s injury was not something to worry about, saying:
“Rüdiger is touched, it’s a blow, but we think it’s going to be fine for the next game. The Alaba thing is a problem with the abductor and I don’t think he’ll be there on Saturday.”
And that is how it has panned out with Rudiger’s knock not serious and the German is now expected to be ready for the Girona clash.
As for Alaba, he will undergo MRI scans tomorrow to determine the extent of his injury.
