According to a recent report by El Desmarque, Real Madrid have identified Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon as the perfect replacement for Thibaut Courtois who has failed to live up to the high expectations surrounding his arrival at the Spanish capital. It is understood that Zinedine Zidane is looking to cash in on Courtois after he made an underwhelming start to this campaign and is prepared to turn his attention to Simon, who has a €50m release clause in his contract with Bilbao (via El Desmarque).
Simon’s Outstanding Form In The Top Tier Of Spain
Simon is a product of the Bilbao youth system but had to leave his boyhood club as a teenager to join CD Basconia back in 2014. However, he managed to seal a return back to San Mamés Stadium and managed to break out as a first-team starter last season.
The 22-year-old has gone on to make a total of 19 senior appearances for Gaizka Garitano’s side, conceding 20 goals while securing seven assists across all competitions. He had made a fantastic start to this campaign after putting in some eye-catching displays in goal for Bilbao thus far. Simon has featured in eight league matches for the La Liga outfit, shipping in just four goals while bagging four shut outs at the back.
The Basque outfit currently has the joint-best defensive record in the Spanish top-flight after allowing just five goals so far this season. A lot of the credit for this incredible feat should go to Simon as he has done remarkably well for Bilbao this term.
What Will The Spanish Goalie Bring To The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium?
Simon can read the game well and can position himself accordingly inside his own box. He is confident in the way he approaches the game and has quick reflexes to pull off some vital stops for his team. Even though the Spaniard is quite inexperienced at the highest level, he has already proven that he is not afraid of the spotlight and can perform well against the high-calibre oppositions.
Will Simon Be A Good Fit For The Spanish Outfit?
The acquisition of a keeper of Simon’s incredible potential will undoubtedly be a wise move for Los Blancos as he can be a standout performer for them for years to come. At 22, the Spanish custodian has his whole career ahead of him so the opportunity to play for a big club like Madrid could be too enticing for the player to turn down.
He will be an excellent fit for the La Liga giants, but the jury is still out on whether he has enough experience to handle the pressure of representing an elite team like Madrid every week.
