Thibaut Courtois hints at Chelsea exit as Real Madrid linked
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has given the strongest indication yet that he may leave the club this summer.
The Mirror report that the Belgian will consider his future with just one-year on his Stamford Bridge contract remaining.
Courtois was between the sticks yesterday as the Blues beat Manchester United 1-0 to lift the FA Cup trophy, with fellow Belgian Eden Hazard scoring the goal from the penalty spot.
After the match, the 26-year-old said:
Whatever he or the club decides, they will know what they do. Like I said in the last weeks or months, I think we’ll see after the World Cup whether I am a Chelsea player for next year. We’ll see what is going to happen after the World Cup.
Real Madrid, whose current number one is Keylor Navas, have been linked with a move for the ‘keeper.
The Spanish giants will be keen to bolster their squad after a disappointing league campaign as they finished third behind fierce rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Given Courtois’s contract situation, the Blues will be forced to make a decision should an official approach be made.
The player also had his say on whether Chelsea need a big summer in the transfer market:
Yeah, I think so. Especially if you see how City and United are spending and working. If we want to aim for the top, we should do the same — obviously within the limits of what’s possible as well. The transfer market has gone pretty crazy. Nowadays you pay £80million for a defender, I think — that’s crazy figures. We’ll see what’s going on, and I am sure the board will do what needs to be done.