Tuchel called…Spain GK, Real called, and he’s off to Madrid.

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Kepa Arrizabalaga (28-Real Madrid) reveals the story behind his transfer to his ‘dream club’. Mauricio Pochettino (51-Argentina) wanted him to stay, but he rejected the offer and opted for a move to Real Madrid. He also revealed that he rejected an offer from Bayern Munich in the process.

Kepa reflected on the transfer in an interview with Spanish outlet Marca on Saturday, saying, “Everything happened quickly. Pochettino wanted me to stay and said I would play,” he said, “He believed in me, but I wanted a change. I got a call from Thomas Tuchel (50-Germany) and I was close to joining Bayern Munich.”

After regaining his first-team place at Chelsea last season, Kepa has been ‘courted’ by big clubs in need of a goalkeeper this summer. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, whose first-choice goalkeeper is out with injury, were in the running.

With the expected early-season departure of Manuel Neuer, 37, Bayern Munich considered several goalkeepers before calling Kepa. Tuchel personally spoke to Kepa and convinced him to stay. After speaking with Tuchel, it looked like Kepa’s move to the Bundesliga was going to happen.

But then Real Madrid, who had just lost Thibaut Courtois, 31, to an anterior cruciate ligament tear, showed up. With Real Madrid approaching, Kepa boarded a plane to Spain and never looked back. Despite being courted by Bayern Munich, he was single-mindedly focused on Real Madrid and eventually landed a loan move. 안전놀이터

“Real Madrid is Real Madrid,” Kepa said. When Real Madrid calls, I don’t have to think twice. I’m really excited to be here and it’s an exciting challenge.” It’s a saga that epitomizes the stature of Real Madrid.

Kepa is the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of soccer. Chelsea spent €80 million (approximately $114.4 billion) to sign him in the summer of 2018 after he excelled at Athletic Bilbao. He was on the chopping block after failing to live up to his transfer fee, but he turned things around last season and kept a crumbling Chelsea side afloat.

Kepa, who became a Real Madrid player for one season this summer, made his debut against Celta Vigo in the third round of the Primera Liga. After a solid start with a clean sheet on his debut, he faces stiff competition for a starting spot from Andriy Lunin, 24.