This afternoon, Real Madrid presented Kepa Arrizabalaga, 28, the Basque goalkeeper that Chelsea has loaned him until the end of the season, with no purchase option, and who comes to replace him at the basketball pavilion of the sports city of Valdebebas. Thibaut Courtois, who will be absent from the pitch until April due to tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
At a press conference, Kepa assured that his goal this season is to show that he can stay at Real Madrid for longer: “I hope Real Madrid wants to stay with me at the end of the season. With my effort, with my performance, hopefully that happens.”
The goalkeeper was close to coming to Real Madrid five years ago, but then the negotiations between the white club and Athletic did not bear fruit and the goalkeeper ended up joining Chelsea, where he has spent the last five seasons. Kepa does not regret everything he has experienced at all: “I have belonged to a great club. We have fought for the best titles. I have played with great players. There are more complicated moments in life but in general it was a beautiful experience”.
And he continued: “The years and experiences harden you. I’ve been through all kinds of situations and I’ve tried to keep the good things. I want to put together everything I’ve learned in these years. Now I’m undoubtedly more mature. Football doesn’t it can be predicted, it is very changeable. I focus on giving 100 for the team I’m in. It has arrived when it had to arrive. In football these situations happen. I am very happy to be here. You cannot change and you have to look to the future and the future is Real Madrid”, he commented.
The goalkeeper was about to sign for Bayern when the call from Real Madrid came through. And he did not think about it: “The decision was very easy. Everything has happened in the last two days. I had proposals from important clubs, but when I found out about this option the decision was quick and easy. I am proud to belong to Real Madrid, for all his legend. I have grown up watching Casillas, who has been one of my references; I paid close attention to him since I was a child in Lezama”.
Kepa did not want to compare himself with Courtois: “I come to build my path, my name, not to compare myself with other goalkeepers. He is going through the worst part of football and I wish him to recover as soon as possible”.
The presentation event was quite brief. After a brief speech by Florentino Pérez, who described him as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Kepa took the floor: “I am very proud to be a Real Madrid goalkeeper. I face this challenge with great enthusiasm and work. Effort and commitment do not go I’m missing it. I hope it’s a great stage, that we can win many titles and make the legend of Real Madrid much bigger”, he declared emotionally before his parents and his wife.
