Chelsea man in latest ‘step back’ – Loan deal failing, unable to prove he’s ‘made for a big team’

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan deal at Real Madrid looks increasingly unlikely to be made permanent, with the Spanish giants seemingly losing faith in him.

That’s according to El Confidencial, who say the goalkeeper has taken a ‘step back’ under Carlo Ancelotti.

They explain that Kepa’s situation is ‘getting worse’ at Real Madrid despite having been handed the opportunity to vindicate himself since the start of the season.

He was brought in as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois after he suffered a season ending injury in the summer.

He was immediately handed the starting spot but five months later ‘he is not permanent’ and has been replaced by Andriy Lunin. That continued recently in the Spanish Super Cup final and that ‘accentuates the problems’ that Kepa has.

Choosing the youngster over the Chelsea loanee was seen as a big sign by Ancelotti and there is a growing belief Kepa has failed to prove he is ‘made for a big team’.

He’s shown other things and that he has good points, but the Spanish giants are concerned about his insecurity in the aerial game, believing it makes him ‘vulnerable’.

The fact Ancelotti chose Lunin for the Super Cup is a ‘step back’ for the Chelsea man, although he does have one supporter in Luis Llopis, who convinced Ancelotti to move for him in the summer.

He may be able to convince the Italian to stick with him and move in the summer, but for now Kepa ‘loses credit again’.