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Real Madrid's goalkeeper situation for the 2023-24 season is a matter of concern, as their star keeper Thibaut Courtois has suffered a serious injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Courtois tore his ACL in his left knee during a training session and will need surgery to repair it. This leaves Real Madrid with only one option in goal, Andriy Lunin, who has not been very convincing in his appearances so far.
Lunin, who is 24 years old, joined Real Madrid in 2018 from Zorya Luhansk but has spent most of his time on loan at various clubs, such as Leganes, Valladolid, and Oviedo. He has only played 17 games for Real Madrid, conceded 19 goals, and kept four clean sheets. He has also had some issues with the coaching staff, especially with goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis, who reportedly does not trust him.
Therefore, Real Madrid may have to look for a new goalkeeper in the transfer market, as they cannot afford to rely on Lunin for the whole season. They have some potential targets, such as Kepa Arrizabalaga and David De Gea, who are both Spanish and have experience in La Liga and the Champions League.
David De Gea is one of the more realistic ones since he is a free agent and would accept a shorter deal, which will allow Courtois to seamlessly come back into the lineup post his injury. Another option could be former Madrid keeper Keylor Navas, who played for Real Madrid from 2014 to 2019 and is out of favor at PSG.
According to reports, Real Madrid were interested in Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin prior to Courtois' injury. They wanted him as a potential replacement for Lunin as a backup goalkeeper. The problem with Trubin is that Madrid now need a world-class keeper, and he is a young prospect and an uncooked product. He had 14 clean sheets for Shakhtar last season in the league but does not have the experience to take on such a huge challenge.
Real Madrid have a difficult decision to make regarding their goalkeeper situation for the 2023-24 season. They have to find a suitable replacement for Courtois, who is one of the best in the world and a key player for the team. They have to act fast, as the new La Liga season is on the horizon with the first game against Athletic Club on August 13.
