Courtois: I’m happy to stay at Chelsea

THIBAUT COURTOIS has given Chelsea hope that he could yet sign a new deal with them next summer despite his family ties to Madrid.

The Belgium No1 has long been on Real Madrid’s shortlist for a new goalkeeper and has 18 months left on his contract at Chelsea. Courtois played on loan at Atletico Madrid for three seasons and his former partner is raising his children in Madrid.

‘I want to take my time,’ Courtois, 25, told Belgian TV show Stadion on VTM. ‘Of course there’s the situation with my children. I love my children to death. When you miss them, you are sometimes wondering: shouldn’t I play in Spain in the next few years?

‘But I’m happy here. I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t sign a new deal. There’s no pressure. I want to have an agreement before the end of season.

‘It’s not the right moment to make decisions. Not for me, not for Chelsea. In a few months we’ll sit around the table again.’