Kepa on failed move to Real Madrid: I went through everything Real Madrid Almost joined Los Blancos in January 2018

Kepa Arrizabalaga has admitted that he came incredibly close to joining Real Madrid before eventually moving to Chelsea, and learnt a lot from the experience.

The Spaniard is the world's most expensive goalkeeper and spoke to MARCA while on international duty with Spain, who played Faroe Islands and Sweden in their Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.

How's life a week after winning the Europa League?

"Well, I'm very happy. Happy to have ended a long season that has had ups and downs and lots of matches like this. If you look back at it, we achieved all our objectives: qualifying for the Champions League by coming third, although we were miles behind Manchester City and Liverpool, reaching the final of the League Cup and winning the Europa League."

How was the final for you?

"I've seen it both ways. I lost with Spain in the Under-21 Euros and now I've been able to win. A final is a big game, you spend a week wanting the moment to come. You're itching to go out and play."

Are you becoming more of a Londoner?

"In some ways yes, in others no. They have dinner very early! I still do what I did at home: I get up, I eat and I have dinner later. But other than this I've not noted big changes. The weather is similar to Bilbao."

How is it training without [Luis Enrique]?

"We know that it's a personal matter. If only he could be here. We hope he can be with us son. There's good harmony with Robert [Moreno]. We are focussed on the two matches. We know that they are in constant contact with the boss."

Has Luis Enrique sent you a message or a video?

"No. [The coaches] are in contact all the time and we know that."

Has the time come for Kepa to be the starting goalkeeper for Spain?

"That's not a question for me. It's for the boss, for Robert. We have three goalkeepers in the national squad that are fighting for this place. The one that plays will do well."

How is your relationship with David de Gea?

"Very good. The atmosphere in training is very good, we both play for big clubs that fight for similar objectives. We get together when we can, we message each other. There's no problem."

How do you see the debate [about the starting goalkeeper]?

"The press talk about it a lot. I'm cool with David. We talk a lot, but not about who plays. We help each other a lot during training and that's good."

Have many people told you that you should start?

"My friends tell me! What would you say to me as my friends? I'm calm and working on it. I played my first competitive game against Malta."

The judgment on a goalkeeper is on another level.

"I always say that goalkeepers celebrate and suffer alone. You have to keep your head and be very strong mentally. You go through situations that aren't easy. Everyone wants to score goals in football and we stop them. You have to be strong in the head, have self-confidence and, above all, always look forward."

Have you worked much on this aspect?

"I try to, but not in a particularly special way. I've never had too many problems with it. I've always felt strong and confident. Maybe that's who I am. It's important for a goalkeeper to remain calm and manage pressured situations."

Are goalkeepers crazy?

"I don't think so. You have to like throwing yourself at shots and be aware that it's hard, different and amazing to be a goalkeeper."

How have you improved after a year in the Premier League?

"I have more experience, I've played 57 games for Chelsea and the national team, more than I'd played in two seasons with Athletic [Club]. I've experienced and adapted to football that it different to LaLiga. It's more direct. Also, our coach asked us to play a way that we didn't at Athletic. The goalkeeper has the ball a lot and I've improved with my feet. I've gone into a different dressing room with other languages and other cultures. It's been very positive for me."

Why has the Premier League dominated in Europe?

"It's been like that this year. I've noticed that the six big teams are at a high level. They have been on a different level. The standard of clubs and players is very high."

You were about to sign for Real Madrid in January 2018, what were your thoughts?

"I don't see it as a bad thing. It was another experience in my life and it affected me. I learned from it because I went through everything. It will be useful for the future. They spoke a lot about me. Everyone was speaking [about me]. For me, I didn't want to say anything until it was all finalised, but they gave me the will to clarify it. These were the most difficult moments."

It's been a few months since the incident in the League Cup final when you refused to come off for Willy Caballero - do you regret it in any way?

"It's the past. I'm not happy about what happened. We were all mistaken. I learned, I said sorry. It all came down on me that week, I didn't know what happened. I needed days of peace, of calm. But I made peace with the boss. I relationship with him is fantastic. He's always trusted me. We spoke and we cleared it up. We continued onwards because there was lots to play for."

What is [Maurizio] Sarri like?

"Innovative. He has very good playing style. Keeping the ball, playing from the back, but going forward with passes through the lines. It's a playing style that needs time for the team to adapt to because it needs certain mechanics and players with certain characteristics. For him, at 60 years old, it was the first trophy that he'd won, like it was for me. It was the missing piece."

Would you like him to stay?

"He's had a great season and achieved the objectives. He has a contract. Apart from this, I don't know anything. I don't know what will happen."