Andriy Lunin has expressed a desire to play more and be given more opportunities after joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2018. The 23-year-old is searching for a side that will give him a more playing time or, at the very least, allow him to fight for a starting spot, which he cannot do at Real Madrid because of Thibaut Courtois’ presence.
Real Madrid is aware of Lunin’s intentions to seek employment somewhere else and is already on the lookout for a successor, with Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina being on their radar.
The Colombian shot-contract stopper’s contract expires on June 30, and if the two parties can come to a deal, Real Madrid will have two veteran goalkeepers in the squad, as well as a backup.
Lunin has a fantastic working relationship with both Ancelotti and Courtois. Indeed, the Italian coach was so pleased with his performance that he was on the verge of granting him the job he desired during the season.
However, Ancelotti refrained from making that decision after a string of dismal results for the team, with Lunin seeing action against Atletico Madrid and Cadiz near the end of the season, demonstrating that he was ready to start.
His debut LaLiga Santander match for Real Madrid was the Madrid derby. He made his league debut with Leganes, where he appeared in five games. Lunin joined Real Madrid in 2018, but he has yet to make an appearance for the club.
He spent 20 games on loan with Leganes, Real Valladolid, and Real Oviedo. Last season, Lunin was not in Zinedine Zidane’s plans, but with Ancelotti in control, he was able to secure a berth in the squad.
Lunin is now eager to try his luck somewhere else, and his choice has generated a debate within the club over who might replace him. While some executives would like a talented kid to complement Courtois, the concept of having an experienced goalkeeper has won out.
Ancelotti is familiar with Ospina, as the two met at Napoli. The goalkeeping pair of Ospina and Courtois, according to the Italian, will be ideal to cover that position. Meanwhile, he admires Lunin’s abilities and believes that the Ukrainian deserves to be regarded as a starter.
In Serie A, Ospina has been Napoli’s first-choice goalkeeper, helping the side stay in contention until the final weeks of the season. As MARCA has learned, Ospina is willing to come to Real Madrid knowing that he will be competing with possibly the best goalkeeper in the world.
