Andriy Lunin showed why Celtic reportedly want to sign him with an outstanding performance during Real Madrid’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Braga on Wednesday night.
You know your goalkeeper has had quite the game when the penalty he kept out of the net at 0-0 wasn’t even his greatest contribution.
Andriy Lunin denied Braga an early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu when the scores were still level. But even that spot-kick stop paled in comparison to the remarkable reflex save the reported Celtic target made later on in the Spanish capital, springing to his left and tipping a bouncing effort around the post.
A truly world-class piece of goalkeeping from a man who only started the game after Kepa Arrizabalaga picked up an injury in the pre-match warm up.
Celtic eye Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin
“It’s another good sign,” smiled Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, Lunin laying the foundations for a 3-0 win far nervier and trickier than the scoreline suggests (Planet Football).
“We have a healthy squad. Let’s keep going.”
According to the Daily Record, Celtic have identified Lunin as a potential replacement for Joe Hart, the veteran glovesman producing a stellar display of his own in midweek, Atletico Madrid needing a couple of truly exceptional finishes to undermine a virtuoso display from the former England international.
Lunin, who joined Real Madrid in an £11 million deal when still a teenager, might just be willing to listen to what Celtic have to offer too. Ancelotti may have paid a grateful tribute to his Ukrainian glovesman last night, but the fact that Real opted to bring in Kepa on loan to replace the injured Thibaut Courtois rather than put their faith in Lunin will not have passed the 24-year-old by.
Hoops eye Joe Hart replacement
“At the end of last season, I was thinking about (leaving Madrid),” Lunin said recently, via Madrid Xtra. “It’s normal (to consider a fresh start) when you don’t play.
“Real Madrid has always been a dream since I was young. You don’t really want to leave. But you always want to play, you train to play, you want to feel the emotions of the games.
“We will see.”
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