Real Madrid: Why Kepa decided to stay with Bilbao
By Ben Sundock
Real Madrid has been unlucky when it comes to signing a new goalkeeper. The club has been itching to find a star keeper since the departure of Iker Casillas as many fans and critics do not find Keylor Navas to be a sufficient starter. Kepa Arrizabalaga was expected to finally be the future, but turned Real down. But why?
At just 23-year-old and Spanish, many Madridistas looked at Kepa Arrizabalaga as the next Iker. And the young goalkeeper nearly joined Real Madrid in January he told radio show “El Larguero”.
“It was a time of much reflection and the decision was one that would have shaped the direction of my sporting career,” he said. “In the end, following advice from my family and close friends, I opted to stay. I’m happy with the outcome and look forward to serving the club for the next eight years.”
After rumors that he had agreed to a deal with Los Blancos and was already in Madrid for a medical, many fans were disappointed when he decided to sign a long-term extension with Atheltic Bilbao.
Kepa opted to stay in the north of Spain for the next eight years, signing a hefty deal with the mid-table side that includes a stunning €80 million release clause.
It’s difficult to be upset with Arrizabalaga for talking with his family and making a group decision that staying in Bilbao and playing regular minutes was more important than going to Real Madrid and not being guaranteed a regular starting role.
Another contributing factor to his staying put is the desire to be a part of the Spanish national team in Russia this summer. The World Cup is an event that players plan their careers around, hoping to one day lift that coveted trophy while representing their country.
While Kepa might not be the starter in Russia, sitting behind David De Gea and Pepe Reina, he still wants to be on the team.
“To be in the running for a Russia call-up, I need to be playing well for my club.”
Kepa has had an okay season thus far, but it’s nothing jaw-dropping. He has made 21 starts in league play, with five wins, seven draws, and nine losses.
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His most impressive stats are his six clean sheets (including one against Real Madrid) and his 3.4 saves per match. Otherwise, Kepa has battled injuries and mediocrity.
While I would’ve loved to see him in the Spanish capital, it’s nothing to dwell on. There are still plenty of up-and-coming goalkeepers around the world who are better than Kepa and can be the future go-to guy for Real Madrid