Courtois will not play if we draw Atletico

[Jesus_Hendrix]

Thibaut Courtois will not line up for Atletico Madrid against his parent club Chelsea if the teams meet in the Champions League semi-finals.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo confirmed the news after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the last eight.

The Spanish side would have to pay Chelsea a large fee to allow Courtois to play in the semi-finals, believed to be in the region of £8.25m, an amount that Cerezo described as unrealistic.

Cerezo told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: 'If we draw Chelsea, Courtois won't play. It is a figure we cannot pay.'

 

 

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Safe hands: Thibaut Courtois will not play against Chelsea should Atletico Madrid draw them in the semi-finals

 

 

 

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Inspired: Courtois only conceded one goal in 180 minutes against Barcelona in the quarter-finals

 

 

 

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Achievement: La Liga leaders Atletico beat Barcelona 2-1 in an all-Spanish quarter-final showdown

 

 

 

The Belgian shot stopper has made no secret of his desire to play for Chelsea as long as he's guaranteed the No 1 spot ahead of Blues clean sheet record holder Petr Cech, but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been reluctant to offer Courtois such assurances.

Courtois joined Chelsea from Racing Genk as a 19-year-old before being immediately loaned out to Atleti, where he has become one of Diego Simeone's key players as they battle with Barcelona and Real Madrid for the La Liga title.

The Belgian international has two years left on his current deal at Chelsea, but it has been reported that the west London club are starting to warm to the idea of cashing in on Courtois as stalwart Cech remains relatively young in goalkeeping years at just 31.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2601145/Thibaut-Courtois-not-play-against-Chelsea-Atletico-Madrid.html#ixzz2yRl4DYRY 
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[theblueone]

Even still, I don't fancy them. When they have the ball, they are lethal, with or without Costa.

[Jonty]

At this stage I think any of the 3 will be massive opponents and will require a tactical masterclass from us, which we are more than capable of.

 

Bring on whoever it may be, I just hope we have the 2nd leg at home again.

[Jesus_Hendrix]

I think being the only team not having to face a brick wall in coutois is a huge advantage for us, as long as we are sound defensively I don't expect us to have massive trouble breaking atleticos defenses and getting past the backup goalie.

[evissy]

They play like we do. Tough in the own area and fast in the breaks. We have more experienced manager and more experienced team so we'd be the favourites in the tie. But it is 50/50.

Courtois can well be the key for their success and I think he is eligible to play against us but I'm not sure.

Btw we already have topics that will cover this question. Try to find one first before you start a new one..

[ForeverCarefree]

I think Atletico would prefer to avoid us in the draw if this is true, no one wants to not be able to field their best XI.

 

 

A very big IF scenario but if it were to be us and Atletico in the final, would they cough up the fee or make Courtois miss out on the final? 

[CFC-May19]

Yeah it's true, sky sports reporting it now. Who's their sub keeper?

[Uno]

Just think though, Chelsea are suppose to be looking to do business in the summer with them so what ever the cost that A.Madrid would have to pay could be forgotten about in a peace keeping exercise looking towards the summer.

[Zola]

Just think though, Chelsea are suppose to be looking to do business in the summer with them so what ever the cost that A.Madrid would have to pay could be forgotten about in a peace keeping exercise looking towards the summer.

I'd say if we are drawn together there will be some phone calls being made back and forth to do deals.

[KURT.5]

He can play but Athletico have to pay according to a clause in his contract, looks like he won't play.

@HLNinEngeland: Atléti chairman Cerezo: "Courtois won't play if we draw Chelsea, as we're unwilling to pay." Between 6 & 10m€, depending on source. #cfc

[Remodez]

I thought it was £3m per match? Seems affordable and I'm sure they would at least consider it if they were to make the final against us.

[mbh]

Yeah it's true, sky sports reporting it now. Who's their sub keeper?

34-year-old Dani Aranzubia, who has played only once this season.

[Zola]

Great news - I just hope Athletico are taken out before we face them

[sonic90]

We'll take all the advantage we can get, who knows what kind of opportunities we get which would get saved by Courtois but not their second choice GK.

 

Strange but he did play against us in the 2012 Super Cup, surely they didn't pay for that relatively unimportant competition? Maybe we only inserted the clause in his current contract.

 

I could see them paying up if we meet in the final though.

[paisleyblue]

Thankfully this is the case.

[Uno]

The super cup is classed as a friendly so not the same rules as playing in the Champions league.

[ForeverCarefree]

I thought it was £3m per match? Seems affordable and I'm sure they would at least consider it if they were to make the final against us.

 

£6m for two games is still a whole lot of money. 

[sonic90]

The super cup is classed as a friendly so not the same rules as playing in the Champions league.

It's not, the Super Cup is a proper competition, not like that Guinness Cup we played in.

Which is why Ramires' red card gave him a suspension in the Champions League. 

[JM7]

Would it hack Courtois off though if he couldn't play in the biggest games of his life? Hes meant to be signing a new deal and I wonder if this might hack him off and force him to blackmail us. He already seems too big for his boots.

[goose]

For the Super Cup I think there was an agreement between the clubs that he could play.

If we are drawn against them I can see the media making a whole big deal about this. Super rich club taking advantage of football minnows, blah blah blah.

Advantage to us obviously if he doesn't play but I can see the madness of CFC allowing it.

[sabin6912]

Would it hack Courtois off though if he couldn't play in the biggest games of his life? Hes meant to be signing a new deal and I wonder if this might hack him off and force him to blackmail us. He already seems too big for his boots.

Not sure he's too big for his boots, rather just he feels he's worthy of challenging Cech for the no.1 jersey and wants the assurances that if he's deemed the better keeper he'll start games, rather than loyalty to Cech blinding our judgement.

Your point on it hacking him off, those were my fears also. Could work the other way and he's sat there thinking "I'm well worth £3m in one of the most important games in the clubs history"

[Remodez]

£6m for two games is still a whole lot of money. 

It is but it's more than worth it for a final. They would get that back and more just for making the final, nevermind winning it. Not so sure it's worth it for a semi final though.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Remodez

[ethicalstrategy]

Personally, I would let him play.  I don't like all this nonsense of loan players not playing against their parent team.

[goose]

Personally, I would let him play.  I don't like all this nonsense of loan players not playing against their parent team.

Sort of agree es, you become the bigger man.

[niall_hearty2000]

Yes but it could open up a whole can of worms if he does play. Conflict of interests playing against his parent club etc. Imagine a dodgy decision he drops a clanger etc.. media and uefa would have a feeding frenzy if that were the case.