“One of the best [clubs] in the world.” Thibaut Courtois sends message to potential next Chelsea owner and makes Eden Hazard transfer claim

“One of the best [clubs] in the world.” Thibaut Courtois sends message to potential next Chelsea owner and makes Eden Hazard transfer claim

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes the club will remain one of the most successful in Europe under its new owner, and he believes Eden Hazard, a Blues star and Real Madrid teammate, can still deliver at the Bernabeu despite his ongoing injury problems.

Between 2011 and 2018, Courtois was a Chelsea player for seven years, five of which he was the club’s No. 1 goalkeeper. 

He won the Premier League twice with Hazard at Stamford Bridge, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup, before departing for the Spanish capital in acrimonious fashion.

Chelsea has won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup in the four years since.

They haven’t had any trouble claiming silverware in Courtois’ absence.

However, the club’s long-term survival has been thrown into doubt in the aftermath of Russia’s heinous invasion of Ukraine over the last six weeks.

As a result, owner Roman Abramovich decided to sell Chelsea, and the Russian was sanctioned by both the UK government and the EU.

The Blues are currently operating under a special licence and must sell quickly to one of four shortlisted bidders – LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and British business leader Jonathan Goldstein, Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Sebastian Coe, Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family, and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca.

Second and final bids are expected to be presented to US merchant bank The Raine Group by the end of next week. 

After that, one will be chosen, and the takeover may perhaps be completed by the end of the month, though that deadline appears to be quite ambitious.

“I think it’s been a hard month for the club and the fans and players,” Courtois said ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid, for whom the Belgian will start in goal.

“But you can see that all the people that love Chelsea are putting all their energy together so that the new owners know the club they are buying, with the fans and to keep that blue spirit. For me also, I was part of Chelsea for seven years in total. That is a big part.

“They gave me the chance to be loaned to Atletico. The chance to grow myself and come back, be with Petr Cech and learn from him, then win two Premier Leagues.

“So I am always happy to come back here and I hope the new owners understand what club they are buying and that Chelsea can keep being one of the best [clubs] in the world.”

For the second time in two seasons, Courtois returns to Stamford Bridge.

However, this time there will be fans inside the stadium, and he is not likely to receive a warm welcome from the Chelsea faithful.

Hazard’s situation would have been significantly different if he had been fit for the game.

The Belgian winger charmed Chelsea fans on a weekly basis and departed the club as a club icon in the summer of 2019 – there were few who begrudged him the opportunity to live out his childhood goal and play for Real Madrid.

However, due to injuries, Hazard has only made 65 appearances for Los Blancos in three seasons, scoring six goals.

Eden Hazard is a very useful player for us,” the goalkeeper said. “The class and talent he has are things you don’t forget. He has been very unlucky and he is in a better place to give his opinion than me but I think he is doing well and recovering.

“The most important thing for him is to recover and finish the season strongly. I hope he can be involved for Real Madrid [next season] and then be involved in the World Cup [with Belgium]. He would have loved too to have been here. He was here for six or seven years; it’s a special game for him and it’s a shame he couldn’t be here.

“I’m sure Eden can contribute a lot to Real Madrid – he has done that for us many times. We have seen his quality on the pitch this season but he has also been very unlucky. Vinicius Jnr has done well in his position but I am still confident in Eden.”

ALSO READ:

• Mason Mount to ‘force Man Utd player to leave’ as trio ‘drawing’ him to transfer
• Why Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can beat Man City in FA Cup final
• Chelsea star’s gesture at full-time all but confirms summer departure
• Mauricio Pochettino signs three-year deal to become new Chelsea manager
• Bayern Munich target likely to play for Manchester City next season: Fabrizio Romano
• ‘So smart’: Kevin De Bruyne jokes Man City teammate can play in about 19 different positions
• Pep Guardiola issues worrying injury verdict on Manchester City duo ahead of FA Cup and Champions League Finals

“One of the best [clubs] in the world.” Thibaut Courtois sends message to potential next Chelsea owner and makes Eden Hazard transfer claim