Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has distanced himself from reported comments attribute to him regarding Atletico Madrid fans.
Reports in Spain had said he told Belgian publication Nieus Blad that he expected fans of Los Rojiblancos to throw objects at him during the upcoming Madrid derby.
“The translation was bad,” Courtois explained, as cited by Marca.
“This will be a special match for me because I arrived at the club when I was just a teenager.”
Courtois won the Spanish league title with Atleti and made 154 appearances between 2011 and 2014.
“I expect things will be thrown (at me) for the entire match,” he was quoted as saying in comments he now has rejected.
“It’s part of football and it happened to me at Belgium too, but so far this season only one person has shouted at me in the petrol station.
“I will use anything for extra motivation.”
