Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has dismissed suggestions Thibaut Courtois could join Real Madrid at the end of the season and insists his No.1 goalkeeper is here to stay.
Madrid were previously quoted £75m by the Blues in their pursuit of the Belgium international but Zinedine Zidane’s side have reportedly rekindled their interest following his return to form during Chelsea’s remarkable return to form.
Courtois, who spent three years on loan at Atletico Madrid, has previously been coy on his long-term future at Stamford Bridge, but Conte is adamant their No.1 goalkeeper is going no where.
“I think it is not important to clarify the situation,” the London Evening Standard quote Conte as saying in his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend’s action. “Thibaut is, for me, one of the best if not the best goalkeeper in the world.
“He’s worked very well, he is a fantastic goalkeeper. He stays with us and that is the most important thing.
“The other situations for me are only situation. I think he is a complete goalkeeper, he is a modern goalkeeper and for me now he is one of the best in the world. “I don’t want to tell him he is the best because he is my player, but he is a fantastic goalkeeper. He is at the top.”
Courtois hasn’t had much to do during Chelsea’s stunning 12-match winning run in the Premier League that has seen the Blues open up a six-point gap at the top of the table. However, the Belgian has been on hand when it has mattered, particularly in recent weeks with important saves against Sunderland to ensure victory late on.
In fact, the Chelsea ace has kept the most clean sheets in Europe’s top five leagues this season (11).
For more stats on Thibaut Courtois, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
