Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois has ended speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid, claiming he is happy with life at Stamford Bridge.
Thibaut Courtois has long expressed a desire to return to the La Liga in the future having spent three years on-loan with Atletico Madrid. He was prominently linked with the Rojiblancos’ bitter rivals Real Madrid after it was reported that Zidane’s side were in the market for a goalkeeper following their failed pursuit of David De Gea.
However, that seems unlikely at the moment with Courtois reportedly claiming he is happy at Chelsea and has no desire to leave the club. Speaking in an interview for Spanish Radio Station Cadena Cope the Belgian was quoted as saying,”I never had anything with Real Madrid. I did not see anything published, but I never had any contact with Real Madrid.”
“I am happy at Chelsea. Everything is going very well – it is a great club. There is no reason not to be happy at Chelsea. You never know what will happen in the future, but at the moment I am very well, in a very good atmosphere.”
However, the 24-year-old has admitted he has the hearts for his former club and as much he’d have liked to make his move permanent in 2014, he knew his future was at Chelsea,”I wish Atleti the best. I miss Madrid, I left many friends there, but I knew my future was in England.”
“There was never any talk about a possible return to Atletico. Oblak is doing very well and I am happy about that. These are rumours that come out from people who do not know anything,” he said. “Perhaps one day I can return – who knows? But right now I’m very happy at Chelsea.”
Courtois has been a revelation since his days at Atletico Madrid. Since his move to the Premier League has well and truly established his credentials as one among the best goal-keepers in the world at the moment. The shot-stopper has a contract with Chelsea until 2018 and the Belgian intends to see it out before he considers a move elsewhere.
Following a memorable stint in Atletico Madrid, where Courtois made a name for himself as one of the most promising prospects in world football, the Belgian returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014 and has since featured in 80 games in goal for the Blues, keeping 28 clean sheets in the process. After an erratic start to the 2016-17 season, Courtois and Chelsea have pulled the strings together, creating an air-tight defence at the back, going 5 games in the Premier League without conceding.
While there is no base to the rumours linking the 24-year-old to Real Madrid anytime in the near future, a move to Atletico Madrid may just be in the offing some time later on in his career. But as it stands, Jan Oblak is number one at the Vicente Calderon and Courtois is staying put at England.
