Kepa Arrizabalaga Shares Insights on His Real Madrid Move: ‘When I Received the Call, There Was No Hesitation

Kepa Arrizabalaga Talks About Choosing Real Madrid Over Bayern Munich

In recent weeks, Real Madrid has faced a string of unfortunate injuries, most notably the ACL injuries to Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao during the summer. Courtois’ injury occurred just days before the new season, necessitating the search for a new number one goalkeeper. Backup keeper Andriy Lunin wasn’t the preferred choice for head coach Carlo Ancelotti in the circumstances.

Real Madrid ultimately decided to bring in Kepa Arrizabalaga, securing his services on a season-long loan from Chelsea. In a conversation with Marca, the 28-year-old goalkeeper shed light on his move to the Spanish capital and the decision to turn down an offer from Bayern Munich.

Kepa revealed, “Everything happened very fast. It’s true that Mauricio Pochettino wanted me to stay at Chelsea and assured me that I would play, expressing his trust in me. However, I felt that a change would be beneficial. I wanted a change. Thomas Tuchel called me, and I was close to joining Bayern Munich.”

However, Kepa’s decision ultimately leaned towards Real Madrid. He explained, “In the end, when Real Madrid calls, you don’t need to think twice. It’s a tremendous joy and an exciting challenge.”

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s presence will be of utmost importance for Real Madrid this season, and he will also play a pivotal role for the Spanish national team, where he serves as the first-choice goalkeeper. He is set to take his place between the posts for Spain’s upcoming matches against Georgia and Cyprus.