The Belgian goalkeeper has firmly asserted that he doesn’t want to end his career with current club Chelsea.
Thibaut Courtois had reportedly fallen out with Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon, last year, over the Frenchman’s training techniques. The 24-year-old keeper had even communicated to the incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte that he wanted the Lollichon issue resolved or he would consider a move to another club.
However, Courtois’s latest revelation comes despite reports claiming that Chelsea are looking to bring in Italy goalkeeping coach Gianluca Spinelli to replace Lollichon.
Courtois is currently in France, along with the Belgian squad for the European Championship, where they face Hungary in the round of 16. In an interview, Chelsea goalkeeper revealed his plans to Belgian outlet Sporza.
“Hard to say,” said Courtois, when asked whether he plans to remain at Chelsea for the rest of his career.
“[Pause] That’ll never happen, I don’t think I will end my career there.”
Courtois coy about future clubs
The Belgian no.1 had been linked with a move to a number of top European clubs, though Real Madrid were said to be the favourites to sign the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Courtois had spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid before moving back to his parent club Chelsea, where he is now the no.1 goalkeeper. However, the Belgian is said to prefer a move back to Madrid, where Real Madrid are believed to be interested in the Chelsea man, after failing to sign David De Gea from Manchester United.
However, when asked about which club he favours, Courtois chose to remain diplomatic, naming most of the top clubs in Europe.
“I didn’t have one, in Spain I watched a lot of Madrid and Barca, in Germany I watched Bayern and Dortmund, in England Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and in Italy Juventus and Milan. There wasn’t one favourite but I always wanted to play at those clubs,” he said.
Courtois’ future at Stamford Bridge has been subject to a lot of speculation over the last season. However, at the age of 24, Courtois is a long way away from retirement and a lot could change by the time the Belgian decides to hang up his gloves.
Begovic the backup plan for Chelsea?
The Blues do have another quality goalkeeper waiting in the wings if Courtois does decide to move away from the West London club. Asmir Begovic has proved, during his time at Stoke City, that he is a quality shot-stopper.
While Begovic has had to play second fiddle to Courtois thus far at Chelsea, the Bosnian has shown that he is equally capable, whenever he has been given the opportunity.
He has four Premier League clean sheets (in a season when Chelsea leaked goals by the dozen) and 1.63 saves per goal. In fact, Begovic could prove to be more useful under Conte’s regime, as he has shown greater distribution range than Courtois.
