The Real Madrid number one was due to return before the end of the campaign, but Kepa Arrizabalaga and Andriy Lunin will continue to battle it out through the season's end…
Real Madrid issued a statement on Tuesday 19th March disclosing that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had sustained a serious knee injury in training.
The accident came only weeks after Courtois had returned to training with the Madrid side after recovering from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear in his left knee. Real Madrid stated that this fresh injury concern affected Courtois' right knee, specifically a ruptured internal meniscus.
The meniscus is a pad of cartilage in the knee which acts as a shock absorber. Meniscus tears usually take place when an athlete twists or turns their upper leg while their foot is planted and their knee is bent1.
The Belgian goalkeeper had been expected to return to action in the coming weeks to backstop Real Madrid through the run in to the end of the season. Earlier today, the club's medical staff confirmed that Courtois had undergone surgery.
Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga, on loan from Chelsea, joined Real Madrid in the summer to replace Courtois for the 2023/24 campaign. Yet, with Kepa's form faltering, supporting act Andriy Lunin has stepped into the starting role.
Kepa has started 12 times for Real Madrid this season, and Lunin a further 17.
The London Evening Standard reported in January that Real Madrid were not keen to make Kepa's loan move permanent, despite the Spaniard allegedly being open to remaining at the Bernabeu.
Kepa's Chelsea contract comes to an end in the summer of 2025. Lunin and Courtois are contracted in the Spanish capital until 2025 and 2026, respectively.
