Real Madrid: All indications point to Alphonse Areola leaving
By Ben Sundock
Paris Saint-Germain will not keep goalkeeper Alphonse Areola or let the French international stay with Real Madrid, according to rumors. Where will the 27-year-old head to now?
When Alphonse Areola was included in the deal that saw Keylor Navas sold to PSG, some fans – including myself – figured he would eventually sign a permanent deal to back-up Thibaut Courtois.
After all, Areola was playing at a high level between 2016 and last fall and having him there to come on when Courtois was injured or struggling was a tantalizing thought. However, the post from Areola’s wife Sunday afternoon all but proved that the goalkeeper would not be staying in Spain or returning to France.
According to reports from Marca, Areola and his family just closed on a house in London and he is hoping to sign a contract with a Premier League team where he will be the regular starter heading in to the fall.
Areola was decent in the few appearances he made while with Real Madrid, but, much like we saw with Karim Benzema holding Luka Jovic on the bench for the majority of the season, Courtois did just that to Alphonse.
Areola was seen as a utility back-up since Andriy Lunin and Luca Zidane were away on loan, but his nine appearances all season simply were not enough to convince him to stay with Los Blancos.
The goal for the player right now is to find a place where he can start regularly and make the French national team for the European Championship which was changed from this summer to next.
Staying at Real Madrid will not get him that call-up.
Chelsea has been voicing their interest in the goalkeeper for several months now and with Kepa Arrizabalaga struggling as the regular starter, Areola could be brought in to strengthen Frank Lampard’s side that have already spent big this summer bringing in German talisman Timo Werner and former Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech.
Karim Benzema was the best scorer in La Liga this season. dark. Next
The pressure is really on Lunin to step up after another tough season on loan this year with two Spanish clubs. He will more than likely be the second choice keeper and it will also be his first season to stay with Real Madrid since he signed two years ago.