A report has emerged that Chelsea number one Thibaut Courtois has informed Chelsea that he does not wish to extend his stay with the London club and instead will see out his contract, which runs until the summer of 2019, when he will then sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Spanish journalist José Ramón de la Morena was speaking about the 25-year-old's situation on Onda Cero, and claimed that the Belgian will force a move to the Spanish capital in 2019 in order to be closer to his family:
Courtois has told Chelsea that he is willing to continue for one more year and join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Chelsea, knowing that, will not have any choice but to sanction his transfer because he has told them that he will not renew in any way. He's crazy about coming to Madrid, as he has his daughter there.
Courtois has already spent three seasons in the Spanish capital while on loan from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid and has previously hinted at a return to Spain. Courtois' former girlfriend lives in Madrid with two of their children and speaking to VTM Stadion last December, the goalkeeper cited that situation as a reason to not extend his contract at Stamford Bridge:
I love my children to death. When you miss them, you are sometimes wondering: shouldn't I play in Spain in the next few years? That's why I want to take my time to make a decision on that contract extension.
I am happy here. I like playing for the club, I like London. My private situation is always gnawing a little bit, but for the rest I'm feeling very good at Chelsea. I don't see any reason why I won't sign a new deal. I just want to consider all options. Everything has to be right.
It's not the right moment to make hasty decisions. Not for Chelsea, not for me. Within a couple of months we will sit around the table again and talk openly. There's no pressure, apart from the media. The club knows that too. Basically I want an agreement before the end of the season.
