In keeping with today’s theme of Belgian national team footballers discussing their club career future (Eden Hazard, Simon Mignolet did as well), Thibaut Courtois says he’s staying put at Chelsea next season. The goalkeeper wanted to make it clear that he’ll be at Chelsea next season, regardless of whether or not he signs a contract extension.
Courtois is inked to one more season at Stamford Bridge, but there has been a ton of chatter linking him with a move to Real Madrid or a return to Atletico Madrid. Thibaut Courtois wanted to settle this issue now, so he can be completely focused on the World Cup in Russia once it begins this summer.
“I’m a little tired with talking about my future, all the speculation weighs on me,” he told Belgian site DH Net (this is loosely translated from French, via NBC Sports).
“I still have a year of contract and we have to talk to Chelsea soon, but I already know that I’ll be at Chelsea again next year, whether I extending my contract or not, I want it to be clear by the World Cup.”
Courtois added gasoline to the fire of speculation that he could be going to one of the Madrid clubs when he said in early February that his “heart is in Madrid.”
In 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.”
He clarified today that although his family is there, it doesn’t exactly mean that a club career is as well.
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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