Thibaut hopes Hazard follows him to Bernabeu

THIBAUT Courtois signed for Real Madrid yesterday before revealing he is keen for former Chelsea team- mate Eden Hazard to join him in Spain.

The Belgium internationalist, named best goalkeeper at the World Cup this summer as he helped his country to third- place, has signed a six- year deal at the Bernabeu.

Courtois had a year remaining on his Chelsea deal and did not report for training with the Blues this week, before the transfer was agreed for a reported £ 31.5 million.

And the 26- year- old fuelled rumours of Hazard being a Madrid target this summer by saying: “He’s a wonderful player.

“I’d love to play alongside him again and we’ll have to see what happens in the future. If he ends up here one day, that would be brilliant.”

Chelsea moved quickly to replace Courtouis, making a record signing for a goalkeeper with the £ 72.1 million capture of Athletic Bilbao shot- stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The 23- year- old Spaniard said: “It’s a way to value the goalkeepers. It’s great that big fees are paid for strikers and other players, but why not for goalkeepers? It’s a good way to acknowledge a good goalkeeper.”