Courtois’ Real Madrid future in doubt

Thibaut Courtois’ father has hit out at the media after they called into question the goalkeeper’s place in the Real Madrid side following Zinedine Zidane’s return to the club.

The 26-year-old has not been in his best form this season as Los Blancos have slipped 12 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

Zidane’s return could also throw a spanner in the works, with the Frenchman preferring Keylor Navas to Courtois in his previous stint at the club, 10 months ago.

It has led to reports that his future at the Bernabeu is uncertain, but Courtois’ father, Thierry, has moved to try and relieve the pressure on his son.

‘I feel that everyone is

Thibaut,’ he said.

“The Spanish press, and also the Flemish. As a father, I cannot ignore that.

“There are also personal things that come out in the press. I see the intentions of journalists to my son. I’m struggling with that, but luckily Thibaut is above that. targeting

“He knows what to do and is aware of his qualities and he will not doubt himself.”

It’s easy to forget Real Madrid paid a princely £35million for Courtois’ services in August last year, and that was a reduced fee given that he only had a year left on his contract at Chelsea.

It shows how highly Courtois was rated and it is unlikely that Real, even with the return of Zidane, will sell one of the best goalkeepers in the world because of a dip in form.