Chelsea misfit Kepa Arrizabalaga could be offered yet another chance at Stamford Bridge by new boss Enzo Maresca.
The Spaniard has not lived up to expectations in West London since his £72m switch from Athletic Club in 2018. Kepa spent last season on loan with Spanish giants Real Madrid – winning the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.
But he failed to establish himself as a first-team regular at the Santiago Bernabeu after making just 20 appearances in all competitions. With his loan deal now over, Kepa will now return to Chelsea.
And his new manager Maresca could offer him a lifeline. The former Leicester boss desires a keeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, something that Kepa has revealed he is adept at.
Speaking in 2020, the Spaniard said: “I feel confident and I feel good playing with my feet. When I was growing up I would watch Spain play.
“When you are young you try to copy what you see. It was the Spanish national team’s way of playing, so we tried to do that from a young age.
“At Bilbao it was something they wanted us goalkeepers to do in the academy. Then it depended on the manager in the first team. It changed a little bit when I was there. We played a bit longer because it we had two very strong strikers.
“But also in the national team, and before in the young national teams, we need to play very much with our feet. I think I always have had good play with my feet, but obviously every year you are improving.
“Of course you work on it with your team-mates and the goalkeeper coach, but also you keep your time after training: to try some passes, try some situations that can happen in the game. The final target is to improve and be better.”
Away from his ability on the ball, Kepa’s future remains up in the air. He has expressed his desire to stay in Madrid and the club would be open to keeping him.
However, The Sun report that they would only sign him should it be on loan or a free transfer. And it is suggested that talks are already scheduled with Maresca to see what his future holds.
As it stands, Chelsea are well-stocked for goalkeepers. Robert Sanchez was signed last summer, and Maresca has said he is keen to keep him according to The Athletic.
Djordje Petrovic also impressed having made 31 appearances across his debut season with the Blues. A number of goalkeepers have also been linked that could fit into Maresca’s style better.
Valencia star Giorgi Mamardashvili has been linked, while Filip Jorgensen of Villarreal has labelled speculation on a move to Stamford Bridge as “fun”. Kepa will certainly be keeping one eye out ahead of an impending decision on his future but is well-placed to make an argument that he could be Maresca’s man given his talents.
