Atletico Madrid were in the midst of a search for a goalkeeper to replace Jan Oblak, and Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin was emerging as the ideal candidate. Lunin, who joined the club in 2018 and has been part of the first team since 2020, has shown he has the potential to be a starter in any top-flight team. However, Florentino Perez had other plans and decided to renew his contract until 2030, thus closing the door on any attempt by Atletico to sign him.
Lunin, a safe bet for the future of Real Madrid
With this renewal, Florentino Pérez makes it clear that he trusts Lunin's talent to be the future of Real Madrid's goalkeeping. Although Courtois remains the undisputed starter, his contract ends in 2026 and the Belgian is already 32 years old. Lunin, at 25, remains a valuable resource that the club is not willing to lose. The contract until 2030 ensures that Real Madrid not only keeps a quality goalkeeper in its squad, but also avoids losing him without financial compensation.
This strategic move allows Real Madrid to cover their backs in case of possible departures or drops in performance in goal. In addition, although Lunin is not a starter, his presence in the team guarantees that there is internal competition to keep Courtois at his best. For Atlético de Madrid, this renewal is a hard blow, as they were hoping to have Lunin for next season.
Florentino Pérez stopped everything
Atlético de Madrid's interest in Lunin was no secret. With Oblak in questionable form and some physical problems, the Atlético board, led by Gil Marín, was looking for alternatives. Lunin, with his youth and experience in the elite, fit perfectly into the profile they were looking for. However, any attempt at negotiation was left up in the air after a call from Gil Marín to Florentino Pérez.
Florentino's response was reportedly blunt: Lunin was not for sale. This conversation made it clear that Real Madrid have no intention of making life easy for their city rival, especially in a position as crucial as goalkeeping. Florentino made it clear that Lunin is a key piece in the club's future plans, and he was not going to allow him to reinforce Atletico Madrid.
Atlético's challenge after Florentino's refusal
Following Florentino Pérez's refusal, Atlético de Madrid are forced to look for other options to replace Oblak. Although the Slovenian goalkeeper has been a pillar at the club for years, his recent performances have raised doubts. The possibility of having Lunin offered a quick and quality solution, but now they will have to look elsewhere.