Real Madrid life-saver benched despite snubbing Ajax

Updated: 12 Dec 2023 16:46 GMT
3 min read

According to Spanish media, Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin had the option to leave for Ajax in the summer.

The Amsterdam team made an offer for the nine-time international of Ukraine, but the goalkeeper himself decided against a transfer to the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

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Lunin eventually snubbed Ajax personally in the hope of getting a chance between the sticks at Real Madrid - but he may regret his decision now.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper would have been in the picture to compete with Gerónimo Rulli in Amsterdam. Ultimately, the Eredivisie giants ended up signing Diant Ramaj, who is currently the first-choice goalkeeper at Ajax due to the Argentinian's injuries.

Lunin's up-and-down season

The Ukrainian goalkeeper, who joined from Zorya Luhansk for €8.5 million in 2018, was Carlo Ancelotti's intended first choice in the summer due to Thibaut Courtois' ACL injury. For that reason, Lunin decided to stay in Madrid and pursue his chances at Los Blancos.

However, those chances quickly diminished when Real Madrid decided to loan Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea. The arrival of the Spaniard was a hard blow for Lunin, who had to give up his starting place to the Spaniard after two games.

A few months later, disaster struck again for Real Madrid, after the 29-year-old injured his right thigh prior to the Champions League match against Braga. As a result, Lunin was again given his chance in goal for Real Madrid in recent weeks.

It was an opportunity that the 24-year-old goalkeeper grabbed with both hands. Lunin only conceded two goals in the last four league games and was the absolute star against Braga in the Champions League. The Ukrainian not only kept a clean sheet but also saved a penalty.

With Kepa fit again, however, Ancelotti has already confirmed that the Spaniard will take back his starting spot despite Lunin's life-saving heroics, having been the only senior goalkeeper at the club at times.

Lunin's - albeit brief - breakthrough appeared to have come just in time for the goalkeeper - and Real Madrid. If it had been up to his wife, Anastasiia Tomazova, the pair would have left already.

In a Q&A on Instagram, she was asked about her husband's future. The answer was clear: “If a club comes knocking and lets him play, we will leave. Then we are ready to move.”