Courtois: "If Madrid want me, then they need to talk to Chelsea"
The Belgian stopper was speaking to Sport/Foot Magazine and focused on a key area of his personal life with his children living in the Spanish capital.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, spoke to Sport/Foot Magazine with the Belgian goalkeeper immersed in contract renewal talks with the London SW6 side. The Belgian commented on the rumours linking him with a move to Real Madrid next season and the keeper acknowledged that his "heart is in the Spanish capital" (a reference to the fact that his children live in Madrid). He also stated: “If Real Madrid are interested in my services, then they need to talk to Chelsea. If they are genuinely interested, then my personal situation would be key as the value on family life is priceless”.
Contract renewal with Chelsea? “We'll have more meetings on the matter in February and there is no hurry as my deal currently expires in 2019. In normal circumstances I'll end up re-singing and the noises are positive. The club are keen to extend my deal as they are with Eden Hazard”.
What about the Real Madrid interest and it's true you travel regularly to Spain. “My personal situation has much to do with that as the mother of my two children live in Madrid. I talk to my daughter everyday via Facetime although my son is just a bit young to communicate that way. I go to Madrid when ever I can and it's not always an easy situation but it's true that my heart is in Madrid. I'm sure everyone can appreciate the logic in that”.
So the interest for a return to LaLiga is real? “I don't know. They need to talk to Chelsea if they are interested. We'll have to see but they've yet to establish contact with Chelsea to date. I do know that one day I will go back to Madrid as I love the city and it was the place where I became an adult. It broke my heart having to leave and my initial spell in London was far from easy but now life is great”.
Are you're children being in the Spanish capital a major factor? “If Real Madrid are genuinely interested, it's inevitable that my personal situation would play a major role in any decision, however, at present my priority is to talk to Chelsea about a new deal”.
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