Thibaut Courtois: Chelsea goalkeeper misses training amid Real Madrid speculation

Last updated on 7 August 2018.From the section Chelsea498

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, did not report for training with the Premier League club on Monday.

And it is understood the Blues do not know when the 26-year-old Belgium international will return.

Courtois has been a Blues player since 2011, when he signed from Belgian club Genk and was loaned to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has also been linked with Real, but did attend training on Monday.

Courtois was named best goalkeeper at this summer's World Cup in Russia, where Belgium beat England in the third-place play-off.

He has played 154 times for Chelsea, keeping 58 clean sheets and conceding 152 goals.

Speaking on Friday, new Blues manager Maurizio Sarri said he was unsure whether Courtois would stay.

He said: "At the moment Courtois is the goalkeeper of Chelsea. I don't know in the future. It depends on the club, it depends especially on him, but I hope Courtois will be our goalkeeper."

Chelsea were then beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield with Argentine Willy Caballero in goal.

Afterwards, Sarri said: "I want to hear from Courtois tomorrow (Monday). I want only players with a very high level of motivation."

Chelsea finished fifth in the league last season as they failed to qualify for the Champions League but did beat Manchester United to win the FA Cup.

Following the win over United, Courtois urged the Blues board to invest in the squad.

"We'll see after the World Cup whether I am a Chelsea player for next year," he said at the time.

"You see how Manchester City and Manchester 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."

Analysis

Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur on BBC Radio 5 live

"Chelsea are searching for a solution for this situation because they have already known for a while, since January when Courtois rejected a new contract offer, that he wasn't going to sign a new deal.

"They know his personal situation with his kids living with his former partner in Madrid, him wanting to be closer to them and pursuing a challenge in Madrid too.

"His mind has never left Madrid after he spent three years on loan over there (at Atletico). Still he dreams of Madrid and that's what Chelsea know too.

"Chelsea have told Real Madrid that until they have found a replacement they cannot give the move a green light.

"It might end up on Thursday at four o'clock that they suddenly find a new goalkeeper.

"I don't think the club can take a gamble on letting him go for free next summer. Now they will get £30-£40m for him and they can still buy a good replacement."

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498 comments

Comment posted by WizardXel, at 19:07 6 Aug 2018
It’s bwggars belief how so called professionals can miss training because they want to leave and still be paid many people’s wages over a year in a week! If I were to do so, I’d be getting the sack and they can roll in the money from there antics? I’ll be quite honest, it’s a travesty how unfair that is. Absolutely ludicrous.
Comment posted by Alex, at 19:28 6 Aug 2018
He's spent the last two seasons chatting to the Spanish media about how he has wanted to play for Real. I think you'll find few Chelsea fans who regard him anywhere near as highly as Cech who was, and still is, a club legend.
Comment posted by Chris, at 19:26 6 Aug 2018
I might not bother turning up for work tomorrow. I'm under contract, but nah, another company is interested in me, so who cares.

Disgusting attitude from some footballers these days. I blame the agents, but a lot of players are thick as two short planks so that doesn't help.
Comment posted by Adam Hollman, at 19:04 6 Aug 2018
This is disgusting. Let him rot in reserves.
Comment posted by Zed The Red, at 19:29 6 Aug 2018
Courtois is out of order. You can't just not turn up. He should take a leaf out of De Gea's book..

Chelsea should reject all bids and let him sulk.
Comment posted by Chris A, at 19:32 6 Aug 2018
I’m sure Courtois doesn’t read the bbc comments board, but on the off chance he does:
Thibaut, wanting to leave our, or any club, is an acceptable normal situation in employment. Nobody genuine begrudges that + understands. However, there is a way of doing it with class, dignity and respect.
Constant media chat and not turning up to work, isn’t it. All you’ll do is lose respect and burn bridges.
Comment posted by Macca76, at 19:40 6 Aug 2018
Totally understand his desire to move but do it the right way Thibaut - turn up for work son. Unacceptable behaviour. Stick him in the reserves and let him sweat until January.
You were no Petr Cech (in his day) anyway.
Comment posted by BFD, at 20:32 6 Aug 2018
Not entirely surprising when you loan him out for three consecutive years to the same club. Big contract, living in Madrid, meets a Spanish girl, marries her, has a kid, has a stable life, never knowing when or whether he’ll be recalled to CFC so gets on with his life. CFC reaping what they sow for a terrible hoard and loan policy of young players.
Comment posted by Nib, at 19:05 6 Aug 2018
Sell. He's a great 'keeper but is desperate to be with his family in Madrid. Cash in and buy a new GK.
Comment posted by CFC Spud, at 19:09 6 Aug 2018
Any player that does not want to be at the club should be shown the door. No one is bigger than the club, end of. He seems to have a descent reason for wanting to go there and has been an asset for us. Get as much as we can for him and move on.
Comment posted by TCee, at 19:27 6 Aug 2018
I think it's a farce that our transfer window shuts nearly 3 weeks before the rest of Europe. This could put some of our clubs (Chelsea with Courtois & Hazard and Man Utd with Pogba) in the precarious positions of losing key players without being able to replace until the January window. The people who thought this out should be sacked!!
Comment posted by grahame, at 19:16 6 Aug 2018
He will be well stuck if Real Madrid don’t come in for him. Shows what type of person he is by going awol. If he can do that to Chelsea, he can do it to any club. Do they really want that kind of disruptive antics in the dressing room? Of course that could be just what Madrid want to force a transfer.
Comment posted by CarefreeCoors, at 19:44 6 Aug 2018
Chelsea fan - let's get Butland and and get this piece of work out the door ASAP. The last thing we need right now is a toxic presence at the club. I understand wanting to go and join Madrid but there's a professional way to do it; this has been anything but. Bye-bye and don't let the door hit you.
Comment posted by Irons45, at 19:25 6 Aug 2018
I don't blame him for wanting to move for his family no matter what they should come 1st. But he should be man enough to turn up at the club and speak to them face to face
Comment posted by MahaloNuiLoa, at 19:12 6 Aug 2018
I personally think that to replace Keylar Navas with Courtois is a backward step.
Comment posted by Geezer Lemon Squeezer, at 21:39 6 Aug 2018
I'm a 4th generation blues fan and Chelsea through & through and I'm sure I'm speaking on behalf of a lot of fans when I say he's not as good as he likes to think he is. He's a top keeper yes but in my opinion not a great one...when he does go he will be remembered as the 4th best keeper we have had behind Cech, Bonetti and Cudicini.
Comment posted by Podgeseda, at 19:17 6 Aug 2018
Beware the ides of August. I always thought closing transfer window in August in a WC year and not in conjunction with rest of Europe was true madness. Add to that the late change of manager and players wanting out and you have a nightmare for the supporters.
Comment posted by Argent Pur, at 19:50 6 Aug 2018
LFC have a couple of spare goalies.
Comment posted by TheBronx, at 19:23 6 Aug 2018
He is a good goalkeeper but there are many better ones...totally unprofessional. Let him go.
Comment posted by oxogravy, at 21:51 6 Aug 2018
No point in keeping a player who wants to go! Ultimately corrosive. As a Liverpool fan we know this'story intimately. We held on to Suarez and coutinho too long.

Chelsea should get the best money they can for him. Chelsea have a pretty decent defence. A half decent keeper like schmeichel or butland would do fine as a replacement for me. I say that seriously. Not being all LFC about it.