Yassine Bounou could have been Real Madrid's number one goalkeeper in the 2023/24 season, but the move to loss Blancos broke down
Morocco's Yassine Bounou has revealed how his participation in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations scuppered his chance to play for Real Madrid after a move broke down with Los Blancos this summer.
Real Madrid suffer injury setback
Real Madrid suffered a major setback to their 2023/24 season when it was announced that first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL injury that would rule him out for the entire campaign.
The reigning Copa del Rey champions immediately hit the market to secure a replacement for Courtois in the transfer window and had a number of possible options including the then-Sevilla goalkeeper Bounou.
However, a move failed to materialise, with the Moroccan heading to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a lucrative summer move.
Bounou transfer derailed by AFCON commitments
While some have assumed that Bounou turned down the chance to play for Real Madrid for the financial allure of the Saudi Pro League, the Moroccan goalkeeper has opened up about the reason for the transfer to Los Blancos breaking down.
Bounou revealed that he was the favourite for the Real Madrid role, but the deal fell through after it was discovered that he would be unavailable for Los Blancos during the 2023 AFCON tournament set to be held in Cameroon between January 13 and February 11.
Real Madrid went with Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of Bounou, who has since been named in the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or.
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