Real Madrid loanee Andriy Lunin has confessed that it was really hard for him not to play on a constant basis for over a year.
In fact, only Ukrainian football legend and national team boss Andriy Shevchenko's support helped him to get through this difficult time.
“Shevchenko helped me and continues to help me a lot with the confidence he has in me because when I was not playing at Valladolid he kept calling me for the Ukraine team and in all the friendlies he counted on me,” the 21-year-old told Diario AS.
“Not playing for a year is a disaster, so that helped me a lot. One of my goals is to be No.1 [for the national team] and for that, you have to play, that's why Oviedo has given me a lot of confidence. I hope that works for the future.”
Lunin joined Real Oviedo on a half-year loan in January, instantly becoming a starter for the Segunda side. Now he is set to return to the Spanish capital at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos' current second goalkeeper Alphonse Areola looks set to leave the Whites this summer after spending the season with Madrid on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The Whites are believed to be against extending his deal by another year.
Lunin joined Madrid from Zorya Luhansk in the summer of 2018 but is yet to make a single first-team appearance for the La Liga giants.
The Ukraine international had loan spells at Leganes and Valladolid -both relatively unsuccessful - prior to his move to Oviedo in January. The 21-year-old is tied with Madrid until 2024.
