Chelsea could face Kepa CRISIS after Real Madrid keeper slams ‘project’

Jacque Talbot
Jacque Talbot
  • Updated: 6 Sep 2023 06:54 CDT
  • 3 min read
Kepa Arrizabalaga for Chelsea, 2022/23
© ProShots

Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga recently went on record to say that he is not a fan of the current project at the club.

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The Spaniard moved to Real Madrid on loan during the transfer window and he is still under contract at Chelsea until 2025.

Kepa spoke to COPE about the move and where it leaves his future. “I felt it was time for a change of scenery. I wanted to stay, but I felt that the project was not the right one,” he said. “When Madrid calls you, everything changes. My signing was closed in just a few hours and a couple of calls.”

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Chelsea have Kepa under contract until 2025, meaning that if Madrid don’t look to sign him permanently, he will have to come back to Stamford Bridge, having stated that he finds their project disagreeable.

Bayern Munich knocked back

As well as Real Madrid, German outfit Bayern Munich looked to be in the midst of negotiations with Chelsea to sign Kepa, with Manuel Neuer out injured.

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It was thought that negotiations were advanced, but nothing came to fruition and he ended up moving to Real on loan.

At the time, Fabrizio Romano reported that Kepa only wanted to join Real Madrid, which apparently led to Bayern Munich putting an end to their negotiations with Chelsea.

Neuer is out injured
© ProShots - Neuer is out injured

But the Bundesliga club only wanted players who would be committed to the cause, as was not the case with Kepa. Real Madrid had their No.1 Thibault Courtois tear his ACL ahead of the season. It’s thought that he will be out until March, meaning that they had to bring in a replacement.

Chelsea sold Edouard Mendy to Al-Ahli and so needed another goalkeeper to come in. They brought in Robert Sanchez from Brighton, who is now expected to be their first-choice keeper, with Marcus Bettinelli is likely to be Chelsea’s backup.

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