Arrizabalaga’s bad Chelsea form blamed on split from long-term girlfriend

Andrea Perez and Chelsea keeper Arrizabalaga [COURTESY]

Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was signed last summer for a club-record fee, was dropped by Frank Lampard last weekend with his dip in form blamed on issues in his personal life

Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga’s dodgy displays have been blamed on a split with his girlfriend.

Respected Spanish daily El Mundo says the goalie’s friends and family believe a break-up with his childhood sweetheart has had an effect on his form.

Andrea Perez had been dating the world’s most expensive goalkeeper for seven years when he moved to London in August 2018.

And the shot-stopper was never shy in showing her off to the world, posting several snaps of them together on his social media including one of them exploring the ruins of Tulum in Mexico in July 2017.

The last time he uploaded a photo of them together was the month before he signed for Chelsea.

He posted a holiday snap on a tropical beach last summer but it showed him sitting alone.

El Mundo described the split today/yesterday (TUE) as “recent”, claiming: “Those close to him are clear about one of the main reasons for his drop in form, his recent split with his long-term girlfriend.”

Quoting an unnamed friend as saying: “He’s suffering quite badly”, it added: “His partner went with him to London when he left his former club Athletic Bilbao and had been his rock until the relation ended.

“His parents, who still live in the Basque town of Ondarroa, try to spend time with him but emotionally he’s pretty low at the moment.”

Andrea, 25 when Kepa signed for Chelsea, reportedly closed her Instagram account after sparking rumours the goalie was heading for Real Madrid before he left his old club by posting a selfie in a famous park in the Spanish capital.

£71m goalie Kepa was outed as the Premier League’s worst shot-stopper last month based on stats including his overall save percentages.

He conceded 32 goals in just 24 Premier League matches after a promising start and ended up on the bench for Chelsea’s 2-2 draw away to Leicester on Saturday ahead of the winter break.

Veteran Willy Caballero is expected to remain Chelsea’s No1 goalie until the end of the season, with reports Frank Lampard is demanding a new goalkeeper for next season.

Out-of-favour forward Pedro made an unexpected start for the Blues, but was criticised by fans for his lacklustre performance and hours later was filmed partying in a Barcelona nightclub with a pretty blonde.