‘Two phone calls’: £150k-a-week player says he didn’t hesitate leaving Chelsea this summer

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Kepa Arrizabalaga says he did not have to think twice about leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid in the summer.

Real Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on loan after Thibaut Courtois was ruled out of action until next year because of injury, and the Spanish goalkeeper has told AS that joining Carlo Ancelotti’s side was an easy decision.

While Kepa departed Stamford Bridge during the summer, his compatriot Robert Sanchez arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion.

And the 25-year-old is already justifying Chelsea’s decision to bring him in. He has been one of their better performers this season, keeping three clean sheets in the Premier League. Only Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone has recorded more (four).

Kepa Arrizabalaga could not say no to Real Madrid

For Kepa, it was not hard to tell Chelsea he wanted to leave once Real Madrid came knocking.

On his temporary switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, he said: “The loan move to Madrid was very quick. Everything was closed in a few hours, with just two phone calls. I had spent five seasons at a big club, Chelsea, and I thought a change could be good for me.

“It’s true that there was the Bayern [Munich] option… but Real Madrid called and I didn’t think about it. If there were other opportunities before it doesn’t matter, what matters is that it became a reality last summer.”

Will Real Madrid sign Kepa Arrizabalaga permanently?

It does not seem impossible. Kepa is clearly happy in the Spanish capital, while Chelsea look to have moved on from the former Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper, who earns roughly £150,000 a week (Capology).

Not only have the Blues signed Sanchez, who is now the club’s No.1, but they have also added Djordje Petrovic to their squad.

Honestly, there is probably little point of Kepa returning to west London, though you would have to question whether it would make sense for him to remain at Real Madrid.

Once Courtois is back from injury, you would expect the Spain international to lose his starting spot.