Sarri Eager for Courtois Talks & Dismisses Agent's Comments After Real Madrid Submit Last Bid
The picture of Thibaut Courtois' future is likely to be a lot clearer by the end of Monday, with Maurizio Sarri indicating that he wants clarification about the Belgian's intentions straight from the horse's mouth.
Real Madrid have been after Courtois for several weeks but ABC report that their current bid will be the last, as they are not prepared to go higher in their attempts to bring Courtois to Spain.
Courtois' agent Christophe Henrotay has pleaded with Chelsea to let his client leave Stamford Bridge so that he can return to Madrid to be nearer his children, who live in the Spanish capital. Chelsea are holding off on accepting the bid until they have a suitable replacement in place.
Sarri says that he doesn't care about Courtois' agent and wants to hear directly from the Belgian himself, who will report to Chelsea's Cobham training ground on Monday.
"I am not interested in the agent," Sarri said, quoted by Sky Sports News. "I want to hear Courtois [and see] if Courtois, tomorrow, will say to me the same.
"I have to speak with my player, of course. I want only players who play with a very high level of motivation. I don't have anything to answer to the agent."
Willy Caballero started for Chelsea against Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield. The Argentine made some important saves to keep the score down but City still comfortably won 2-0.
Marcin Bulka and Rob Green are among Sarri's other goalkeeping options but he is not satisfied with any of them as a regular starter. Everton's Jordan Pickford has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge if Courtois leaves.
Courtois was at his former club Genk at the weekend, where he was non-committal when asked about his future.
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"I’m not going to comment. It’s all delicate. I’m relaxed at the moment," he said, quoted by the Metro.
Chelsea's Premier League campaign begins at Huddersfield on Saturday.
