Peter Henry
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not show up for training at the Blues Cobham training facility today as he aims to push through a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The Belgium international‘s future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks, with his agent publicly pleading with Chelsea to allow the 25-year-old move to the Bernabeu.
New Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has always been insistent that he would like to talk face to face with Courtois before deciding on his future, although the 59-year-old Italian coach conceded after Sunday’s 2-0 Community Shield defeat to Manchester City that he would not keep any player at Stamford Bridge who was not fully motivated.
According to Sky Sports, Courtois was supposed to return to training today after his post World Cup holiday, but his no show is a clear indication that he has his heart set on moving to the Spanish capital, where his two young children live with their mother.
Real have already tabled a £35 million bid for the talented ‘keeper who’s contract runs out at the end of next season, although Chelsea are reluctant to allow him leave without signing an adequate replacement.
Both Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak are reportedly the Stamford Bridge outfits main targets, and it has even been suggested that if Chelsea sign a replacement before the close of the English transfer window at 5pm on Thursday they could even allow Courtois to move to Real anytime before the Spanish window closes at the end of the month.