The Day Ochoa Nearly Became a Madrid Player

The career of Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa could have taken a historic turn. Journalist Mauricio Ymay of ESPN revealed that the Mexican goalkeeper held talks with Real Madrid’s goalkeeping coach about becoming the team’s backup keeper, as Andriy Lunin was close to leaving the club.

The plan seemed clear: Ochoa was ready to accept a secondary role behind Thibaut Courtois while maintaining his presence at the highest level in Europe, a key step as he prepares for the 2026 World Cup. But the move collapsed in dramatic fashion.

Everything changed when Courtois suffered a serious injury, which stopped Lunin’s departure. The Ukrainian stayed at the Santiago Bernabéu and took over the starting spot, shutting the door on Ochoa’s chance to join Los Blancos.

A Free Agent With the World Cup in Sight

Currently, Ochoa is without a club after finishing his contract with AVS of Portugal. Recently, he came close to joining Burgos CF in Spain’s second division. He underwent a medical exam and was ready to sign, but disagreements over contract terms caused the deal to fall apart at the last minute.

At 40 years old and with five World Cups under his belt, the veteran keeper’s goal is clear: to reach the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. However, national team coach Javier Aguirre has stressed that only active players competing at a high level will be called up, adding pressure on Ochoa to find a new club quickly.

A return to Liga MX remains a realistic option, although no firm offers have been confirmed. The uncertainty surrounding Ochoa’s future contrasts with the magnitude of the opportunity he narrowly missed: becoming the first Mexican goalkeeper to play for Real Madrid.