Kepa’s move to Real Madrid in the summer transfer was something of a dream for the Chelsea player.
Not set to be first choice under Mauricio Pochettino, the Spaniard was able to sign for Los Blancos on loan, and finally complete the move he’d wanted several seasons earlier.
Kepa was set to move from Athletic Club Bilbao to Real Madrid for just €20m in 2018, his release clause at the time, but Zinedine Zidane, then in charge at the Bernanbeu, blocked the move.
Zidane didn’t feel Kepa would be enough of an improvement on Keylor Navas, and therefore he decided to stick rather than twist.
Chelsea ended up signing the stopper, but at that time had to pay a record fee for him. Thibaut Courtois moved from Stamford Bridge to Madrid and got the shirt Kepa had once thought would be his.
Courtois’ serious injury this year allowed Kepa to finally live that dream. It’s been going reasonably well, until he picked up an abductor injury. AS report his layoff is set to extend beyond the international break, meaning he’ll miss matches against Cadiz and Napoli.
The Chelsea owned player picking up the injury has allowed Andriy Lunin to take his chance, and he’s done well against SC Braga and Valencia.
Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear he’ll pick his goalkeeper on merit, and now Lunin will be determined to make sure Kepa’s unlikely dream is ruined before the end of the season.
