Valdano: "I don't see Luca Zidane as Real Madrid's reserve keeper"

Jorge Valdano thinks that the goalkeeping issue at Real Madrid is far from being resolved - even though it seems Zinedine Zidane has decided that Thibaut Courtois, and not Keylor Navas, will be the team's first choice next season. If Keylor leaves, Valdano is not sure where that will leave Luca Zidane who up until now has been the team's third choice keeper. The 21-year-old has only played two full games with the senior side during the past two seasons - against Villarreal last season and the Week 29 meeting with Huesca this season. And that's nowhere near enough experience to be handed such a big responsibility as being Courtois' understudy, says Valdano.

Luca Zidane doesn't have the experience

“I think would be too early to give him a role which involves the risk that goes with being the second choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid. I’m not saying that he couldn’t become the second choice goalkeeper at some point in the future but he needs far more experience that he’s had so far to be given such a privileged position. The reserve goalkeeper position [at Real Madrid] is a very important position – it’s not like being second choice in other positions”, Valdano explained. “At big clubs, the second choice keeper usually plays in the Cup competitions – like the Copa del Rey… so they only get to play sporadically and gradually build up their rhythm in case they are called on one day”.

Lunin set to return

Madrid sold their most experienced reserve keeper Kiko Casilla to Leeds during the winter transfer window while Andriy Lunin is set to return after his non-eventful loan spell at Leganés. In theory, Lunin would be the logical choice to take over if Keylor moves on, the problem being that with just four LaLiga appearances and two in the Copa del Rey, he barely has more top flight experience than Luca...