Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois followed Manchester United growing up
Thibaut Courtois believes he could have ended up at Manchester United – the club he ‘always followed’ growing up – had it not been for David de Gea.
Courtois has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world over the past decade, winning league titles at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
The Belgian burst onto the scene at boyhood club Genk and revealed he attracted interest from Tottenham and multiple European clubs in the summer of 2011 when he was signed by Chelsea.
Chelsea immediately sent Courtois out on loan to Atletico and he flourished in Madrid, helping Diego Simeone’s side win the Europa League and a stunning La Liga title.
The Blues were happy for Courtois to develop at Atletico as Chelsea legend Petr Cech was still starring at Stamford Bridge but the younger goalkeeper displaced the veteran during the 2013-14 season.
Courtois lifted two Premier League titles in the space of three years at Chelsea – winning the Golden Glove award in 2016-17 – before joining Real Madrid, where has has spent the last seven years.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed remarkable levels of success at the Bernabeu, winning three more La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues under Carlo Ancelotti.
Courtois ended up replacing Petr Cech at Chelsea
Courtois always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid having idolised Iker Casillas growing up but would have been keen to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar for the same reason.
Had it not been for De Gea – who spent a decade as the No. 1 at Old Trafford after joining from Atletico in 2011 – Courtois could have spent some time at Old Trafford.
‘I loved Edwin van der Sar and Casillas,’ he told former United defender Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.
‘I always followed Real Madrid and Manchester United games for that reason. I watched a lot of Edwin growing up and I tried to learn from him.’
Asked by Ferdinand why he never moved to the Theatre of Dreams, Courtois replied: ‘They signed David [de Gea[, you know?
‘That shaped my path in a bit of a different way. I was a fan of Man United.
Courtois enjoying huge success at Real Madrid
‘At the moment when I was starting to do well at Genk, there was some interest from Tottenham, some interest from Chelsea and some interest from clubs in other countries too.
‘Chelsea at that moment had the best project for me long-term and basically because David was going to Man United, it opened the door for me to go to Atletico.
‘That move made me into the goalkeeper I am today.’
Courtois was more than ready to replace Cech as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper when he returned to west London but the veteran did not let the potentially awkward situation affect their relationship.
‘I learned a lot from Petr,’ Courtois added. ‘He was very important for me. He was one of the best goalkeeping teammates I had.
‘I came in and was fighting for the spot but Petr was an unbelievable guy who treated me with so much respect, so much love and so much help that I really could never have imagined. But it taught me a lot.’
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