Real target De Gea when Courtois ruptures ligament
"After examining the injury, Courtois was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He will have surgery in the coming days," Real announced on August 10.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Courtois fell during training on the morning of August 10 and burst into tears when he had to leave the field on a stretcher. This daily reported that a player with an ACL tear usually has to be out for seven to eight months, meaning Courtois is likely to miss the whole of the 2023-2024 season.
Courtois' injury is the latest major upheaval in Real's personnel situation. At the beginning of the transfer window, captain striker Karim Benzema quit his contract a year early to join Al Ittihad, the reigning Saudi League champion, with a season salary of $ 200 million. Then rookie Arda Guler - midfielder dubbed "Turkey Messi" - injured his knee in pre-season and had to rest until October.
In the summer of 2018, Courtois left Chelsea and joined Real for about $ 45 million. The Belgian goalkeeper has been a mainstay during the last six seasons, appearing in 230 matches in all competitions, with Real winning two La Ligas, a King's Cup, two Spanish Super Cups, a Champions League, a European Super Cup and a European Super Cup. a FIFA Club World Cup. He also received the Yashin Trophy award honoring the best goalkeeper in 2022.
According to Sky Sports, Real immediately contacted De Gea's agent after determining Courtois was seriously injured. The Spanish goalkeeper just left Man Utd because his contract expired after 12 years and is a free agent. He has many years of playing in Spain when he grew up from the Atletico training academy, playing for the first team from 2009-2011.
Real also considers the possibility of recruiting Kepa Arrizabalaga - who was pushed to the transfer floor by Chelsea after buying goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton for $ 25 million. Bayern - the club is also looking to buy a goalkeeper when Manuel Neuer is out for the rest of the year - has sent an offer to borrow Kepa with an option to buy it permanently in the summer of 2024.
Real will likely not be able to buy a goalkeeper in time this week and will have to use Andriy Lunin in the opening match of the 2023-2024 La Liga season against Bilbao on August 12. The Ukrainian goalkeeper was recruited by Real from Zorya Luhansk in 2018, and then played for Leganes, Valladolid, and Oviedo respectively on loan. He made his debut for Real's first team in January 2021, and currently has 17 appearances in all competitions.
