Sarri ready to let Courtois make Real move

CHELSEA manager Maurizio Sarri has opened the door to Thibaut Courtois securing his dream move to Real Madrid this week. Belgium goalkeeper Courtois is due to report for pre-season this morning but is pining for a move to Spain. Courtois has a season left on his current deal which exposes Chelsea to the possibility of losing him for nothing next year. The goalkeeper’s agent Christophe Henrotay has called on the club to grant his client a move to the Spanish capital, where his children live with his former partner. And Sarri appears to be ready to let Courtois leave before Thursday’s transfer deadline provided the keeper tells him he wants to leave when they meet face-to-face today. ‘I have no reaction on the agent. I’m not interested in the agent,’ said Sarri. ‘I want to hear Courtois. If Courtois says the same, I have to speak with my club because I only want players with a very high level of motivation.’ Just three weeks into the job, the Italian (right) is facing an uphill battle to prepare his squad for the new season. ‘In this moment, there is a little difference — maybe not little — between us and City,’ Sarri said. ‘There was a big difference from the physical point of view, I think, so we have to work.’ The World Cup has delayed a number of Chelsea stars from returning to training, compounding issues in getting across Sarri’s philosophy. ‘We have the idea to press,’ the Italian added. ‘Sometimes we press in the right way but sometimes not. ‘So, I think it’s a long way we have to work. It’s not very easy. I prefer in this moment to stay on the pitch with the players only for training.’ Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata endured another difficult afternoon and was heavily criticised by BT Sport’s pundits at the final whistle. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said: ‘He didn’t seem to have the heart for it, as if he wasn’t interested. Unless you get the ball wide, he is not effective.’ Former City captain Richard Dunne added: ‘Some players did not look like they wanted to be there. Morata was a disgrace up front today, awful.’