In a recent development, reports from Jose Felix Diaz (h/t RM4 Arab) reveal that Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper, has caught the attention of an unnamed team from a Saudi Pro League.
That particular Saudi club has approached Courtois in hopes of securing his services. However, Real Madrid have made it clear they have no intentions of letting him go, as they view the Belgian shot-stopper as an essential part of their current project.
Interestingly enough, this is certainly not the first time Courtois has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
Previous links with Saudi
Earlier in the summer transfer window, rumours surfaced that a Saudi team was preparing a substantial offer of around €70 million for Courtois. Despite the speculation, no formal deal was ever made, and the goalkeeper remained at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The thing to note here is that even if there was a bid, Real Madrid would have outrightly rejected that.
In recent months, Real Madrid have become a popular target for Saudi clubs looking to lure top talents to the Middle East.
Vinicius Jr. was another player who found himself linked with a possible move to Saudi Arabia during the last transfer window, although he also stayed put.
Courtois likely to stay
As for Courtois, he is under contract with Real Madrid until 2026, making his future at the club quite secure.
While backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been pushing for more playing time, there is no doubt that Courtois remains Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred option between the posts.
The Italian manager is unlikely to entertain the idea of losing such a vital player anytime soon. With Real Madrid continuing to value Courtois highly and the goalkeeper’s long-term contract in place, any potential move to Saudi Arabia seems highly unlikely for now.
Player valuation in the title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.