Football Espana
·20 August 2024
Real Madrid now expected to retain player that looked destined to depart this summer
![Article image:Real Madrid now expected to retain player that looked destined to depart this summer](https://image-service.onefootball.com/transform?w=280&h=210&dpr=2&image=https%3A%2F%2Ficdn.football-espana.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F06%2FLunin-Bellingham.jpeg)
Football Espana
·20 August 2024
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has re-iterated on many occasions that his squad will not change between now and the end of the summer transfer window. Despite an obvious lack of depth in central defender, no more signings are planned, while there is also projected to be no more first team players on their way out.
That would mean that Andriy Lunin would stay, despite having seemed destined to depart at some stage during the summer. The 25-year-old, who was excellent last season, will be Thibaut Courtois’ backup for the 2024-25 campaign, and the expectation is that he will play very little over the next 9-10 months.
Lunin has been wanting regular football, something he won’t get at Real Madrid. Despite this, MD say everything indicates that the Ukrainian stopper will continue for at least one more season.
Real Madrid will be pleased to retain Lunin, although it’s not all good news. His current contract ends next summer, and if he chooses not to sign a new one, he will walk away for free in July 2025. Club officials will be determined to ensure that this does not happen.