The rumors in Spain continue to grow although the revolutions have dropped while waiting for the uncertain future of Andriy Lunin, substitute for now of Thibaut Courtois, who clearly, under the shadow of the Belgian, knows that the only matches in which he will be able to act will be in the Copa del Rey in the early stages and in matches where Real Madrid already has goals achieved, such as LaLiga, in recent times, and with the title confirmed, the Ukrainian had one or two titles above former Atlético de Madrid and Chelsea .
It seems that Andriy Lunin’s future is far from Real Madrid and that is what the Ukrainian needs for his youth. He is only 23 years old and is emerging as one of the candidates to take the goal of the Ukrainian national team. However, for this he will need to have the regularity that he will definitely not have in the current champion of the Uefa Champions League.
Thus, on Real Madrid’s radar in search of a second goalkeeper, two names appear, who are waiting for what happens with Andriy Lunin. Little by little the two candidates have been diluted, probably because of that wait. The transfer market ends on September 1st, so there will be plenty of time to define whether David Ospina or Gabriel Slonina wear white. Whoever arrives, he knows firsthand that he will have to wait for his moment to have a leading role in Carlo Ancelotti’s eleventh.
David Ospina and Gabriel Slonina play one-on-one to be to the liking of the Real Madrid boards. They know that their names appear on the radar, but they must, first, wait for Andriy Lunin to jump to another club, and second, define their future. In the case of the Colombian, there is talk of a goalkeeper with much more experience at 33 years old, while Slonina is just beginning his first steps in professionalism, despite the fact that he has represented the United States in the U-15, 16 and 17 teams. In addition, he was summoned by Poland, having dual nationality for the Uefa Nations League, but Gabriel’s wish is to represent the country where he was born.
According to information from AS, there are clear reasons for David Ospina to beat Gabriel Slonina in that possibility of a second goalkeeper arriving at Real Madrid. First, the experience, not only because of his 33 years, but because the Colombian seems to have even more profile to reach the white team due to his stay in the old continent, his 512 games as a professional, while the Chicago Fire youth only adds 32 encounters.
However, it has been notorious in the transfer plan, wanting to have youth, and Gabriel Slonina would appear there as a candidate. He knows that he will have to wait, but the great level he has shown in the United States can bring him closer. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga are part of the present and future of Real Madrid. Lately, Florentino Pérez has been preparing what the Spanish team will be in a few years, and on the porch they are looking to ‘fish’ for a youth that has come out in the folder due to his presentations in the MLS with the Chicago Fire.
He also made his debut at the age of 17 in the Chicago Fire goal, allowing him to be the youngest goalkeeper in MLS. He featured in a goalless draw against New York City with four saves which, in turn, allowed him to set another record as the youngest to record a clean sheet in MLS. Having Gabriel Slonina would be betting on a youth player, who has given the United States something to talk about with great saves that link him to that litter of youth players in the present and future of Real Madrid.
Although it seems that David Ospina will have it easy, it will not be like that. Well, the Colombian has made more covers, being even more demanded in Napoli with 86, while Gabriel Slonina saved 30 shots. An 18-year-old youth in a league like MLS, he left a good number of saves despite the 20 goals scored against him.
The last factor that AS analyzes is in the voice of its columnist, Tomás Roncero, who spoke about who can stand the substitution, ‘David Ospina is a good goalkeeper, for the unstoppable and adds some intervention that justifies his good professional career: Nice, Arsenal and Naples . Ancelotti had him in the city because he loves Maradona and knows him well. Slonina looks very good, but her 18-year-old teenagers would surely be upset enough by the eternal substitutions to become a problem in the locker room.’
However, the mental can play tricks on him, but Gabriel Slonina could start in Real Madrid’s youth team with Castilla and as his performance improves, he will be able to take charge of the goal in the Spanish team. In addition, due to his youth, they could tie him up once and for all and loan him to another European club like Chelsea that has been interested in him or any other so that he has European experience, while with Ospina this would be impossible.
David Ospina knows what it’s like to alternate goalkeeping with Alex Meret and Petr Cech at Napoli and Arsenal. Perhaps this scenario would not be the problem, even if he wants to gain a position in the national team facing that generational change that will take place. Without a doubt, due to experience and saves, the Colombian is the one with the best profile, but Real Madrid is looking to ‘fish’ for youth to have a litter for the future.
Finally, it would be easier to hire David Ospina who would arrive on a free transfer, while Gabriel Slonina has a contract with the Chicago Fire until 2023.
