Soccrates Images/Getty Images Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga would like to return to boyhood team Athletic Club one day, with the Basque-born star saying he has “ bang-up memories ” of his time at San Mames. Kepa, 25, became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when Chelsea triggered his €80 million buyout clause to secure his transfer from Athletic in August 2018.
Speaking on El Chiringuito ( h/t Goal ‘s Tommy Doleman ), Kepa said : “ Of course I would like to return to Athletic. I do n’t know when or how or what, but playing at Athletic obviously I ‘d like that. I have great memories. ” The Blues plug was born in Ondarroa in Biscay, the like state in which Bilbao is located. He joined Athletic in 2004 and exhausted eight years in their academy before earning his top-flight introduction in September 2016. His stay at Stamford Bridge has been fruitful. Kepa was key to Chelsea ‘s UEFA Europa League gloat last season, namely saving two penalties against Eintracht Frankfurt in a semi-final gunfight : The Blues No. 1 besides opened up on the last months of his fourth dimension with Athletic, suggesting he would struggle to represent another team in La Liga :
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“ For several months my grandma saw more of me in the newspapers than in the flesh. There was a lot of talk about me. I was besides injured for a while, so it was n’t a dear moment for me. My abridge was due to expire and from January onwards I was able to start talking to early clubs. “ I could n’t see myself joining [ another ] club. I ended up renewing my condense with the theme of staying, but six months former I left. That was the alone compression. ” Chelsea besides finished as runner-up to Manchester City in the final of last season ‘s Carabao Cup, when Kepa refused to be substituted despite orders from then-manager Maurizio Sarri. Frank Lampard has since taken over at the Chelsea helm. Goal ‘s Nizaar Kinsella highlighted a miss of consistency among their refutation since that appointment :
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It ‘s improbable the west Londoners will be open to selling Kepa in the dear future given his senesce and the fact that he signed a seven-year condense upon joining. Athletic besides look at comfort for the time being with the man they have apparently anointed as Kepa ‘s long-run successor, the 22-year-old Unai Simon : Los Leones may have to wait until Kepa ‘s contract runs down before they can afford to re-sign their former star, though it ‘s a boon for them to know the plug is keen on a return .