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Real Madrid have always on the lookout for a goalkeeper since Iker Casillas left the club. Every transfer window is rife with rumours about them moving for a world-class goalkeeper, even though Keylor Navas has done pretty well since becoming the first choice at the club.
Of all the keepers out there, David de Gea has been the most linked. Nonetheless, De Gea is at United and looks likely to stay there. Real, on their part, have increasingly turned their attention to Chelsea's big Belgian shot-stopper, Thibaut Courtois.
Here we highlight 3 reasons as to why the move makes sense in both footballing and personal terms.
#3 Courtois has arguably reached the pinnacle of his career at Chelsea
Courtois has already won two league titles with Chelsea and has been their rock at the back since displacing Petr Cech. He wants to go the next step and win the Champions League. While Chelsea are a club well capable of challenging for the Champions League, they are still some way behind the continent's best.
Real Madrid have won the Champions League back to back in the last two seasons and very few people bet against them being front-runners to be champions of Europe every season.
Courtois has been a faithful servant of Chelsea and has enjoyed success with the Londoners. But to go to the next level and start challenging to win the Champions League and not just aim for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be what Courtois will be looking at, with Real Madrid providing the perfect platform for him to take that next step in his career.
#2 Courtois' contractual situation
The Belgian international goalkeeper's current contract at Chelsea expires in 2019 and with no progress in terms of a contract extension, Real Madrid should make the move.
Chelsea, for their part, have been unable to agree on the terms of a contract extension for their superstar goalkeeper. Contract talks have stalled since the end of last season's title-winning campaign.
Courtois is understood to want £200,000-a-week – double his current salary – which Chelsea are not been prepared to meet. With his wage demands not being totally outrageous, De Gea at Manchester United earning in the same bracket, Real Madrid would have no problems meeting his wage demands and the possibility of getting him for cheap should be enticing for Los Blancos.
#1 Courtois' family is in Madrid
Courtois is well accustomed to the city of Madrid, having played at Real's city rival Atletico Madrid. This is what he had to say in a recent interview,
Everybody knows that due to my personal situation, Spain attracts me. If it is not now, it will be in some years.
The 'personal situation' that Courtois is referring to are his two children, both of whom reside in Madrid with their mother, Marta Dominguez, who Courtois had met during his loan spell at Athletico Madrid.
Even though Marta Dominguez and Courtois are now separated, the amount of time he spends with his kids is quite restricted due to the hectic Premier League schedule. The move to the Real Madrid coincides perfectly with his wish of seeing his children more and personal reasons might indeed be the deciding factor here.
