Transfer news: Thibault Courtois will not be joining Barcelona according to his father, who also admits his Chelsea future is in doubt
Thierry Courtois claims that his son cannot go to a club to be second choice as he prepares to return to Chelsea at the end of the season
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea goalkeeper Thibault Courtois will not be heading to Barcelona once his loan deal with Atletico Madrid expires at the end of the season.
That is the belief of the 21-year-old’s father Thierry Courtois, and although he admits his son has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp, he feels that the Catalans have made their mind up over another young shot-stopper in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Courtois’s future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain given Petr Cech’s terrific form of late, and the Belgium international has spent the past two seasons on loan with Atletico since he joined the Blues from Genk.
A number of top European clubs are believed to be interested in his services should he become available, with his stock rising significantly as he has helped Atletico rise to the top of La Liga, a competition the Madrid side have not won since 1996.
Barcelona’s interest appears to have cooled since claims emerged that they have signed ter Stegen on a pre-contract to replace the departing Victor Valdes, who will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. Courtois Snr has revealed that the Spanish champions have not made an approach for his son, and feels that he needs to be at a club where he is considered number one.
“Chelsea have a good goalkeeper in Cech, so cohabitation with both is not possible,” he was reported to have said by Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
“Alternating between the two is possible on paper but this is not what we want. This is not a situation we want.
“For now, we expect to discuss with Chelsea but it is impossible for Courtois to join a club to be their number two, and the conclusion is the same for Petr Cech.
“Every week he dazzles us. He produces big performances and his team continues to amaze and produce good results, in part thanks to him. This is a big success. It goes beyond our expectations.
“He is very happy. He does not bother about tomorrow, and plays it game by game and works every day to improve. He is happy to be appreciated by his teammates and the staff.
“There has never been an approach from Barcelona,” he added. “The future will apparently be keeper ter Stegen so there was never any question to sign Thibaut there.
“The press talked a lot, but their technical director chose another type of stopper (ter Stegen).”
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