Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is reportedly interested in joining La Liga giants Real Madrid when the winter transfer window opens in January.
The 24-year-old Belgium international had been linked to the Bernabéu residents last season when Los Blancos sent him a "get well soon" fax message after suffering a knee injury. The same incident was again brought up this past week and the rumors that Courtois could seek an exit from the Stamford Bridge next year were revived.
Courtois had also disclosed in an interview last week that he "would delay signing a contract extension with Chelsea as he still would like a return to Spain at some stage in his career" and speculations have emerged that he could be pertaining to a move to Real any time soon, as per Caught Offside.
However, with recent reports indicating that Real head coach Zinedine Zidane is keen on acquiring David De Gea from Manchester United in the winter, the Belgian youngster might consider making himself available as early as this January for the Spanish capital city club.
The Blues are said to be aware of Courtois' intention to let his contract with them expire and move to Madrid on a free transfer, and so the English Premier League side may be forced to sell him to Real soonest rather than letting him go without getting anything in return.
If Zidane and company successfully acquire De Gea from the Red Devils in January, then Courtois will already miss the chance of reaching his dream of becoming a Real player as the Spanish shot stopper is young enough to become the first-choice keeper at the Bernabéu for many years to come.
This means that Courtois could force a move back to Spain, which the report said "would undoubtedly be a massive blow for Chelsea and Antonio Conte if they were to lose him any time soon".
Courtois had spent three seasons on loan with Spain's other capital city club, Atletico Madrid, from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014, and he admitted that he enjoyed his time there and missed playing in La Liga as well.
"Yes (I miss Spain), but not only because of the club, but for how Madrid is and the entire country. From the first minute I loved Spain for its people, the way of life, the food," said Courtois, as per the Independent.
"Today I still have the food and eat dinner late, the siesta, the television I watch most is Spanish. I feel half Spanish. The three seasons at Atletico made me the goalkeeper I am now. When I said goodbye I felt bad, it's not easy to make me cry," he said.
"When I left Spain I knew that one day I would return there," he added.
Courtois is currently Conte's starting goal tender with Bosnian Asmir Begovic and Portuguese Eduardo Carvalho as his backups.
