Stamford Bridge goalkeeper hoping to continue on loan in Spain.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has asked Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas if he can stay at Atletico Madrid on loan for another season.
The Belgian, 19, is thought of as one of the best young custodians in world football, and has gone some way to replacing David de Gea at the Spanish club by readily adapting to La Liga.
De Gea of course left for Manchester United in the summer for the princely sum of £17m (plus add-ons), while Courtois cost a far more conservative fee of around £7m.
He was immediately sent to Estadio Vicente Calderon on loan for a season, with Petr Cech still deemed first choice at Stamford Bridge, but has the option of another year in Madrid.
It is a deal he hopes to reach, as he feels his development is working well in the Spanish capital.
“I am very happy at Atletico and I’m having a good experience. I want to stay another year, which is what I told Chelsea on Sunday,” said the Belgian goalkeeper to Marca, who also revealed his delight at keeping two consecutive clean sheets under new manager Diego Simeone.
“Now we’re playing more aggressively, with more dynamic and better organized. Having kept a clean sheet in two games is very important,” said Courtois.
Courtois has settled into life in one of Europe’s best leagues well though, and some pundits have even compared him with legendary Belgian goalkeeper Michel Preud’homme.
Of course he has plenty of developing to do before that comparison can truly be made, but the signs bode well for Thibaut Courtois – and Chelsea.
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