Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has revealed that the advice of his friends and family is the key reason why he snubbed a move to Real Madrid.

Various outlets in Spain had reported that the 23-year-old had all but signed for Los Blancos in January – only for him to perform a last-minute U-turn.

Kepa went on to agree a contract that keeps him tied down in the Basque country until 2025, with Real forced to turn their attentions to costlier options such as David De Gea, Thibaut Courtois and Alisson.

And two months later Kepa, who is competing for a place in Spain’s World Cup squad this summer, remains adamant that he made the right choice.

“It was a time of much reflection and the decision was one that would have shaped the direction of my sporting career,” he told El Larguero radio station.

“In the end, following advice from my family and close friends, I opted to stay. I’m happy with the outcome and look forward to serving the club for the next eight years.”