Sometimes Don Balon claims make sense. It doesn’t happen often, and it doesn’t mean they’re pushing well sourced information, but it goes with a theme that can be believed.
Their latest take on Real Madrid’s goalkeeper hunt falls into that category. It’s explained that Thibaut Courtois has moved on to Real Madrid’s agenda after wanting to be in that position for a long time.
It’s widely known the Chelsea goalkeeper would look kindly on a return to Madrid, having family living in the city.
Don Balon point out that Zinedine Zidane leaving Real Madrid has presented danger for Keylor Navas. Florentino Perez had been happy to send the Costa Rica stopper to Manchester United in exchange for David De Gea, but after that move failed the goalkeeper grew in strength.
Zidane was a big backer of Navas, and that’s why Real Madrid haven’t signed a goalkeeper. There’s been a line of players linked, including Athletic Club Bilbao’s Kepa, but the Frenchman never wanted to disrupt his team in such a way.
With Zidane out of the way, Perez can go shopping. De Gea is a target again but would be incredibly difficult to sign, and the price of AS Roma’s Alisson seems to be on the rise.
This is all useful for Courtois and any hope he has of that Madrid move. With a Chelsea contract expiring in June 2019 and no sign of a renewal near, there will be decisions to be made at Stamford Bridge this summer.
Should the Belgian still not have signed a renewal as the end of the window approaches, then Chelsea will have to at least consider taking what they can get rather than potentially seeing the player go for nothing.
Courtois will use ‘maximum force’ to get his move say Don Balon, and even though it’s them claiming it, would it really be surprising if he does so in the face of a genuine Real Madrid chance?
