Real Madrid: 3 young players who must take a leap in 2021/22
By Sudhir Salvi
ANDRIY LUNIN- GOALKEEPER
Andriy Lunin was brought in by the club a few years ago and is considered to be a long-term investment. His first full season in the first team, the 2020/21 campaign, saw him appear just once in all competitions and that was in a Copa del Rey defeat at the hands of lower tier minnows Alcoyano, as Los Merengues lost by a score line of two goals to one.
Lunin has not had many chances to prove himself over the years for Real Madrid, whereas his loan spells elsewhere have been unproductive at least to the outside eyes. His display against Rangers in the pre-season friendly last weekend was one which showed why the Real Madrid board decided to invest him and he must build on those to become a reliable back-up for Thibaut Courtois.
To expect the Belgian to battle week in and week out for 38 matches in La Liga and a further few in the Champions League without a back-up simply does not make sense for a big club like Real Madrid. Lunin is set to be the back-up goalkeeper for the Whites yet again, but he has to flex his muscles and win Ancelotti’s trust at least to play in the matches of lesser magnitude in La Liga too.