‘It is also true’: 28-year-old Chelsea player confirms Thomas Tuchel tried to sign him this summer

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Kepa Arrizabalaga has now confirmed that Thomas Tuchel tried to sign him from Chelsea this summer.

The Spain international addressed the rumour when speaking to Marca.

So, what did Kepa Arrizabalaga say about Thomas Tuchel? Let’s take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, it was the Evening Standard who first revealed that Bayern Munich had made a bid to take the 28-year-old on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

That deal looked set to materialise after Chelsea gave Kepa permission to leave.

However, the Spaniard eventually moved to Real Madrid on a season-long loan after Thibaut Courtois suffered a serious knee injury.

It was strange to see Tuchel made a move for Kepa given the fact the German often preferred Edouard Mendy during his time at Stamford Bridge.

When asked about that situation, the Ondarroa-born glovesman said: “Yes, well it is also true that although I did not play with him, the call reinforces a little that the coach, if in the first stage you have not played with him at all, only for him to then want you on his team, this makes you feel good.”

Clearly, there were no hard feelings from Kepa towards Tuchel despite acting as No.2 to Mendy under the 50-year-old.

Tuchel handed Kepa just 24 appearances during his time in charge of the Blues, while playing Mendy on 78 occasions.

Tuchel wanting to sign Kepa from Chelsea was odd

Tuchel’s desire to sign Kepa was even more strange when you consider the fact Mendy was also on the market this summer for just £16m.

It suggests that Tuchel feels the Spaniard had leapfrogged the Senegal international in terms of quality since Todd Boehly fired him.

Mendy certainly suffered a major dip in form – even before Boehly sacked the German – so perhaps Tuchel feels the 31-year-old really is no longer the glovesman he once was.