Chelsea have refuted a claim from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois that the club went back on a promise to sell him this summer, report ESPN FC.
The Belgian goalkeeper told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, as cited by the report: “In March I had a meeting with Marina [Granovskaia] in which I told her that I would like to leave.
“Living in London and the busy schedule made it impossible to see my kids, who lived in Madrid. 'Are you going to find something?' she replied.
“I told her: 'Don't worry.' 'That's good,' she said. 'We will let you go and we will find a replacement.' But, suddenly after the World Cup, a departure wasn't that obvious anymore.
“All possible targets seemed too expensive. That was not what we had agreed on.”
Chelsea eventually agreed upon the shot-stopper’s €35m move to Madrid while they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Club after triggering his €80m release clause.
