Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will see his contract expire in June 2019, but talks for a potential extension with the club are now ongoing. Courtois developed a zest for living in Spain when he was on loan with Atletico Madrid for three years, and he’s been inked with a move to Real Madrid.
However, the Belgian insists that the two time defending European champions have not made an overture for him. The Chelsea #1 has two children who currently live in Madrid with his ex-girlfriend. During the season, he simply doesn’t get to see them very much. Courtois gave a revealing interview, in which he opened up about his future and said “my heart is in Madrid.”
Let the explosion of transfer rumor stories ignite in 4..3..2..1….
During his exclusive with Belgian outlet Sport/Foot Magazine, Courtois said:
“My personal situation is related to the city of Madrid.
“My two children live there with their mum. I have my daughter every day on FaceTime. She often tells me that she misses me. My son is still too small to communicate like that. Whenever I have the opportunity, I try to return to Spain. As a situation, it is not always easy. Yes, my heart is in Madrid. It is logical and understandable.”
Yes, very logical and understandable; very much so. Courtois played down the links to Real Madrid, saying that the La Liga giants have not reached out to his people about trying to acquire him.
He also reflected on his Atletico days and mentioned that he’s currently working on possibly extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.
“If they (Real Madrid) want me, they have to contact Chelsea. We’ll see. But they have not done that. What is certain is that one day I will return to Madrid. I love Spain, I love the city, I spent three wonderful years there.”
“It is there that I became an adult.”
“Atletico was a real group of friends. We went out together and my teammates taught me a language I did not know at all when I arrived. When I left, I cried. My first days in London were not easy. England, when I arrived, was colder, more business. Now, I feel very good here.”
“I understand that the rumours are coming back today, as we are talking about a new goalkeeper there [at Madrid]. But I do not pay much attention to that, I stay focused on Chelsea.”
“If Real are really interested, my personal situation could influence things. The family aspect is priceless. But I repeat to you that, for the moment, I’m busy talking to Chelsea to extend.”
So, in summation, plenty of mixed messages there. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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