10 World Class Players Who Refused to Train to Force a Transfer

#8 Thibaut Courtois: Chelsea to Real Madrid

Will Thibaut Courtois leave Chelsea this summer?

After finishing fifth in the Premier League and no longer in the Champions League, Chelsea are having a tough time keeping hold of their players this summer. Eden Hazard has been linked with a move away but he still has two years to run on his contract, putting Chelsea in the driving seat.

That is not the case with Thibaut Courtois, though. The Belgian goalkeeper's contract expires in 2019 and he has no intention of signing a contract extension to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Rather than risk losing him for free, Chelsea are looking to sell him with Real Madrid interested in securing his signature. But the deal will only go through if Chelsea find a replacement.

That has not been the case so far and Courtois missed the Community Shield match and has since not returned for training sessions either. New manager Maurizio Sarri was hoping he would return, saying: "I want to hear from Courtois. I want only players with a very high level of motivation."

Courtois had spent three years in Madrid when he was loaned to Atletico and his partner also lives in the city with his kids. The goalkeeper has said he preferred a move to Madrid so he can be closer to them instead of continuing his career in England.

Real eventually announced got their man with Mateo Kovacic going the other way on loan.

👋 Bienvenido al @RealMadrid, @thibautcourtois!#WelcomeCourtois| #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/hHqzcomSQi

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 8, 2018