Having found himself consistently linked with a move away from Chelsea for years on end, Thibaut Courtois has attempted to end the constant speculation by confirming that he will most definitely be tending nets at Stamford Bridge again next season.
The Belgian goalkeeper has been mentioned in passing with the likes of Real Madrid for what seems like an age, but the 25-year-old is adamant that he will, at the very least, see out the remaining year of his contract with the Blues.
In an interview with Belgian outlet La Derniere Heure (DH), Courtois addressed the relentless conjecture by seeking to nix them entirely:
I’m a little tired of talking about my future every time, all the speculation weighs on me.
I still have a year on my contract and we have to talk to Chelsea soon, but I already know that I’ll be at Chelsea again next year, whether I’m extending (my deal) or not.
I’d like for things to be clear before the World Cup.
This coming roughly a month after Courtois told the Belgian press that his “heart is in Madrid” only to clarify by insisting that he was talking about his family, who live in the Spanish capital, only to then mention in passing that his agent would be more than happy to “listen” if Florentino Perez gave him a tinkle in the future.
Just a thought, but if old Tibs is so intent on nipping all this pesky speculation in the bud, he might want to start by easing off on the Madrid stuff.