Real Madrid: Courtois handed number 25 shirt
The Belgium international usually wears the number 13 at club level but Kiko Casilla has retained it with Luca wearing 30, provisionally until September 1.
All eyes will be on the Real Madrid team sheet ahead of Julen Lopetegui’s Liga bow against Getafe on Sunday evening with Keylor Navas and Thibaut Courtois vying for the starting position following the Belgium international’s move to the Bernabéu from Chelsea earlier this month.
Courtois joined Madrid for a fee of 35 million euros and was presented at the Bernabéu on August 9 to considerable fanfare. Navas, who has been the undisputed first-choice keeper for the past three seasons, stated his intention to remain at the club and fight for his place between the sticks and the decision between the two keepers will be Lopetegui’s main selection dilemma for the league opener.
Courtois expected to make Liga debut against Getafe
Ineligible for the European Super Cup against Atlético, Courtois was confined to the stands as Real lost 4-2 after extra time against city rivals Atlético in Tallinn.
In the meantime, Real issued their squad numbers for the season on Friday and handed the 26-year-old Belgian the 25 shirt, which was vacant last season. Navas retained his number one jersey with Kiko Casilla also hanging on to his number 13 – the preferred choice of Courtois, who sported it at both Atlético during his three-year loan from Chelsea and again on his return to Stamford Bridge.
Luca Zidane, the fourth-choice first-team stopper as it stands, will wear the number 30 for now with both the son of former manager Zinedine and Casilla unsure of their positions with the transfer market open until August 31. Sevilla have expressed an interest in Casilla and Luca could leave before the window closes with his chances of senior action this season extremely limited.
The current squad numbers are provisional until September 1.
