By Nicholas McGee
Thibaut Courtois has revealed his desire to stay with Atletico Madrid next season instead of returning to parent club Chelsea.
The Belgian has spent the last two campaigns with the club from the Spanish capital, winning both the Europa League and Uefa Super Cup in addition to reaching the Copa del Rey final in what has been an extremely successful spell.
Courtois has yet to make an appearance for his parent club, who signed him from Jupiler Pro League side Genk in 2011, and the 21-year-old revealed that he is in no hurry to return to Stamford Bridge and play second fiddle to first-choice shot-stopper Petr Cech.
“Everyone knows I like it here and, if I can, I want to stay,” he told The Daily Mirror.
However, Courtois, who set a new club record after going 820 minutes without conceding a goal before Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad, knows his future is out of his hands.
He added: “I am happy, I like my life here, my team-mates. It is not just my decision, Chelsea and Atletico also have to talk.”
