Thibaut Courtois remains essential to Real Madrid’s plans, and that’s why the club is moving quickly to extend the Belgian goalkeeper’s contract. Talks are reportedly well advanced, with only a few final details left to iron out. While Courtois is currently under contract until the summer of 2026, the club is preparing to lock him down for two more years.
Breaking Club Policy for Courtois
Courtois, now 33, is about to receive a rare exception to Real Madrid’s typical policy. Traditionally, players over 30 are renewed on a year-to-year basis. But in this case, the club is prepared to offer Courtois a two-year extension, keeping him at the Bernabéu until 2028, when he’ll be 36.
Of course, that long-term commitment brings a natural question: Can Courtois maintain the elite level he’s shown once he hits his mid-30s? The club will be watching closely.
Lunin’s Future Remains Uncertain
Andriy Lunin was once expected to be Courtois’ heir, having proven himself on numerous occasions under pressure. But now, it appears his time at Real Madrid may be coming to an end. In fact, Saturday’s match at the Bernabéu may have been his last in front of the home crowd.
After stepping in admirably during Courtois’ long injury spell last season, Lunin still found himself benched for the Champions League final in favor of Courtois — a decision that reportedly frustrated the Ukrainian keeper. Despite that, he surprised many by signing a contract extension.
This season, Lunin has mostly been limited to Copa del Rey action — his “safe space” — only to be benched again in the final against Barcelona. This time, the decision didn’t sit well, and sources say he’s grown tired of playing a secondary role.
Lunin’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already presented offers to Florentino Pérez. The strongest interest is coming from Galatasaray, though Manchester United is also said to be monitoring him closely.
Real Madrid Are Already Preparing a Move – David Raya Is the Target
With Lunin likely on the way out and Courtois not getting any younger, Real Madrid are already active in the goalkeeper market. While Joan García had long been linked with Los Blancos, his price hasn’t dropped after helping Espanyol avoid relegation.
Now, a new name has surged to the top of the list: David Raya.
According to The Sun, Real Madrid are seriously considering a move for the Arsenal goalkeeper, who’s been outstanding in the Premier League and impressed during the Champions League — even eliminating Madrid along the way.
Arsenal are reportedly aware of the growing interest and have started planning accordingly. Ironically, their fallback option could be Joan García, leading to a potential goalkeeper merry-go-round across Europe.
With Courtois’ renewal nearly finalized and Lunin’s departure looming, the Bernabéu could be welcoming a new face between the posts this summer — and David Raya might just be the blockbuster signing Madrid didn’t know it needed.