Arrizabalaga is likely to join Maresca as he contemplates a move away from Chelsea. According to journalist Rahman Osman from London World, the Spanish goalkeeper is set on leaving the club this summer.
Discussions regarding his future are expected to take place with Maresca in the coming days, and it appears that Arrizabalaga is keen on a transfer. Chelsea is reportedly open to his departure, as his contract is due to expire in 2025.
The only condition that might persuade the 29-year-old to remain at Chelsea is the assurance of competing for his starting position. However, with Chelsea actively searching for a new goalkeeper and Maresca’s preference for Robert Sanchez, this seems improbable.
Reflecting on Arrizabalaga’s contributions, former Chelsea assistant coach Arno Michels praised his performance, particularly highlighting his penalty-saving skills. After a crucial FA Cup match against Plymouth in 2022, Michels commented on Arrizabalaga’s reliability and impressive ability to save penalties.
He noted that Arrizabalaga had demonstrated this talent on multiple occasions, including in the Carabao Cup and against Villarreal, and even consistently in training. Michels emphasized the goalkeeper’s capacity to anticipate the opposing player’s actions during penalty shoot-outs, earning the team’s confidence.
Michels expressed his satisfaction with Arrizabalaga’s dedication and performance, acknowledging the difficulty of competing with Edouard Mendy, who was also performing well. Despite this, Arrizabalaga continued to work hard in training and maintained a positive attitude.
Michels praised his character, describing him as friendly and hardworking, and celebrated his ability to come through in critical moments, such as penalty shoot-outs.
Leave a Reply