FC Barcelona is actively seeking a replacement for departing goalkeeper Victor Valdés for the upcoming season. While names like Pepe Reina and Marc André Ter Stegen have been circulating, attention has also turned to Thibaut Courtois, the current Atletico Madrid goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea. However, Courtois’ father has clarified the situation, indicating that Barcelona was never a serious option for his son.
“Thibaut Courtois is not disappointed that FC Barcelona has pursued other goalkeepers. It was never a realistic option anyway. He is under contract with Atletico Madrid until the end of the season, and then he returns to Chelsea. We are in discussions with them, and we’ll see,” he stated, as reported by Metro.
Regarding the possibility of Courtois joining Barcelona, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho emphasized last October that the Belgian belongs to Chelsea, dismissing any notion of him moving to Catalonia. “Barcelona may want to make an offer for him, but I haven’t thought about his situation yet. Courtois is under contract with us. We are in control, not Barcelona,” he declared.
