KEPA ARRIZABALAGA was on the verge on joining Real Madrid before Zinedine Zidane blocked the transfer, according to reports.
The Chelsea goalkeeper is set to feature at the Bernabeu tonight as the Blues take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
But he almost became a Real Madrid player in 2018 – just a few months before signing for Chelsea.
That's according to AS, who claim the shot-stopper even passed a medical at the club.
The report claims Real activated a buyout clause in his Atletic Bilbao contract worth £17.5million.
And after the deal fell through because Zidane felt his side did not need a new keeper, Chelsea came knocking.
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But unfortunately for Blues, Kepa had put pen to paper on a new contract in the meantime, and increased his release clause to an astronomical £71.6m.
Chelsea were happy to pay it and let Thibaut Courtois leave for Real Madrid in the same summer.
The Belgian was named European goalkeeper of the year in 2022 after helping Los Blancos win their 14th Champions League title.
Courtois helped Real beat Chelsea in last year's quarter-final and is expected to line up tonight.
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Kepa, 28, remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, with Liverpool star Alisson second after joining the Reds for £55m.
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