Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan goalkeeper named Bono, was just about to experience one of the most exciting moments of his career when he was about to join Real Madrid. The Sevilla goalkeeper revealed details of his upcoming transfer in a recent interview, in which he recounted his experience of almost reaching the white club.
Bono, who has been noted for his stellar performances in La Liga, admitted he was seen as the “first option” to replace Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid. The Belgian goalkeeper’s injury opened the door to that possibility but unfortunately the African Cup of Nations stood in his way, as he said over the Canal Sur Radio microphones. The goalkeeper explained that Real Madrid’s board of directors analyzed the situation and decided not to go ahead with the operation because taking part in the African tournament would mean missing a number of crucial games in an important month for the merengue club.
The news that Real Madrid had finally chosen Kepa Arrizabalaga as their goalkeeper surprised many, including Bono. However, the Moroccan goalkeeper understood the logic behind this decision as Real Madrid also had other loan options that better suited his needs.
In addition to his close ties to Real Madrid, Bono has also been in talks with FC Bayern Munich. The German giant showed interest in signing the goalkeeper but the negotiations came to nothing. According to Bono, Bayern seemed to be considering a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer, prompting the player to explore other options.
Petrodollars knocked on the door
Ultimately, Bono decided to accept the offer from Al-Hilal, a team from Saudi Arabia. His decision to join the Arab team came after his participation in the European Super Cup with Sevilla against Manchester City. After that game, Bono began a new chapter in his career on Saudi soil.