Chelsea ace Thibaut Courtois has put an end to on-going speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid after insisting he will still be playing football at Stamford Bridge next season.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are determined to finally sign a marquee goalkeeper after missing out on David de Gea’s signature in 2015 and had been heavily linked with a move for Chelsea’s No.1.
Courtois, who spent three years on loan at Atletico Madrid before returning to Chelsea as their first choice goalkeeper in 2014, has previously opened the door to a return to Spain but is adamant he will still be a Chelsea player next season.
“I don’t see myself at Real Madrid,” Courtois told Cadena Ser Radio. “ I see myself at Chelsea, the club that six years ago saw me playing in Belgium and gave me the opportunity to sign for them.
“They also allowed me to be three years at Atletico, which helped me to be the keeper that I am now. I feel that I’m key to the team, I’m very happy at Chelsea, and I don’t see myself anywhere else.”
While this is ultimately good news for Chelsea, the same cannot be said for Manchester United or Tottenham. Courtois was not the only goalkeeper Madrid were looking at in the Premier League and these latest comments would now surely move their attentions back onto De Gea, or even Spurs captain Hugo Lloris.
In the Premier League this season, Courtois has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper (13), while Lloris and De Gea are joint second with 10-a-piece.
For more stats on Thibaut Courtois, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
