Real Madrid star questions new contract

Real Madrid face a difficult decision regarding the future of goalkeeper Andriy Lunin after the Ukrainian international spoke about his uncertain future as his contract now enters its final year.

After becoming first choice last season while Thibaut Courtois struggled with injuries, he is now negotiating a new contract to extend his current deal beyond 2025.

When asked about his future in an interview with MARCA, he said: “Let’s see, let’s see… There’s not much time left to find out. Of course (I want to stay), but… Well, the only thing I can say is that everything went well with Madrid… And that it’s now in the hands of Madrid. That’s all I can say about my future.”

He was asked further about that statement, but refused to elaborate. “Well, I said what I wanted to say. Soon… Well, I don’t know what will happen either,” he explained. “If I didn’t want to be here, I would have taken all my vacation, but I want to go back now and continue because I’m on the best team in the world.”

The main reason for these doubts seems to be that Lunin wants to play regularly in the first team in 2023/24, as he likes. Having made 31 appearances in the previous season, he is aiming for a regular position, which could be difficult following the return of Thibaut Courtois, who replaced Lunin in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

“I understand that everything will be complicated because Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But that also makes me better and stronger mentally. I want to play everything and be number one, but that’s normal because that’s what all players want,” Lunin added in his interview with MARCA.

Disappointing Euro 2024 for him and Ukraine

Lunin will return to training with Real Madrid on Monday 15 July following a disappointing European Championship in which Ukraine were eliminated in the group stage. His performance was particularly poor and he lost his place following a 3-0 defeat to Romania in his team’s opening match.

“It’s very clear that I made two mistakes. The first mistake is technical and I think it can happen, but it’s a mistake,” he explained. “The second goal was unlucky because I didn’t see the ball coming out and then I lost sight of it halfway because a defender tried to avoid it… I threw myself blindly but I didn’t see it. I threw myself blindly but I missed. That’s why I went out at the end of the game to apologise, that’s the least I could do. I apologised and kept working.”

He was subsequently replaced by Benfica’s Anatoli Trubin, who conceded just one goal in his country’s next two matches, against Slovakia and the Netherlands, before the team finished bottom of their group despite a respectable four points from three games.

Real Madrid’s alternative if Lunin leaves

With Lunin’s contract entering its final 12 months and expiring in the summer of 2025, it is logical that if he does not wish to extend his contract, a possible exit could occur this summer.

If that is the case, Real Madrid will have to find a new backup goalkeeper. MARCA claims that the club could turn to Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Spaniard who was loaned from Chelsea last season and eventually lost his place to the Ukrainian.

He is valued by staff and players for his professional attitude and approach and the club believes he could be signed for a small transfer fee and Chelsea are ready to capitalise on that before his contract also expires next summer.

This could also mean placing more faith in Fran González, a promising talent emerging from the club’s academy and currently competing with Spain in the European Under-19 Championship.