Lunin seems to have reached a point of no return. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has grown tired of being in the shadows and has accumulated suitors to leave the Whites in the summer. The goalkeeper himself has passed on offers to Florentino, thus making a declaration of intent. The Ukrainian is eager to gain continuity and playing time, and it does not seem that he will get it at Real Madrid.
The fact is that the Whites are going to renew Courtois, even breaking their own rules for players over 30 by offering him a two-year contract. The Belgian player is crucial for Real Madrid and remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world despite this season’s results.
His shadow is very long, and Lunin has grown tired of being relegated. This season, apart from the Copa del Rey, he has only played in matches where the Belgian goalkeeper has been unavailable. In addition, as was the case last season, when the young goalkeeper more than covered for Courtois’ long-term absence, the Belgian goalkeeper has displaced him from the Cup final.
Lunin took Real Madrid to the final, but his recent weeks out with injury, coupled with Courtois’s higher standing in the pecking order, saw him relegated to the bench on Saturday against Barcelona at La Cartuja. This situation seems to have been the last straw.
Offers to leave
Despite seeing little playing time, Lunin’s quality between the sticks is not in question, which is why he has attracted interest in the transfer market. According to MARCA, “Jorge Mendes, Lunin’s agent, met with club officials to inform them of the goalkeeper’s current situation and begin discussing the offers received. One of the clubs that has been most insistent during the season has been Galatasaray, but for the moment there has been no talk of a deal, only an analysis of the situation.”
Lunin’s good performances continue to be monitored by important teams looking to strengthen their goalkeeping position, one of which is Manchester United. There has also been talk of several interested parties from Turkey. He has no shortage of suitors and could be living his last months as a Merengue.
Real Madrid has been working for some time to find a new goalkeeper to replace Courtois. The favorite in that search is Joan García, for whom Real Madrid has a plan. They want to sign him as soon as possible to beat the competition and then loan him to Espanyol, his current club, while Courtois finishes his career and García does not lose playing time in his shadow, as has happened with Lunin.