Sports
Thibaut Courtois goes AWOL from Chelsea training as keeper attempts to force through Blues exit
Thibaut Courtois has stepped up his bid to force through his Chelsea exit by going AWOL.
Goalkeeper Courtois failed to return to the club on Monday following his summer break.
Courtois was due back at Chelsea’s Cobham base after his World Cup exploits with Belgium, along with the other Chelsea stars involved until the final weekend in Russia.
New boss Maurizio Sarri was also hoping to meet Courtois for the first time and hold face-to-face talks over his future.
Courtois is aiming to force a Stamford Bridge exit (Image: (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images))
Instead, a picture of Courtois visiting a supermarket in Tenerife was posted yesterday when he should have been attending initial tests ahead of his return to full training.
It followed his no-show at Sunday’s Community Shield against Manchester City.
With no explanation for his absence he is on a collision course with Chelsea chiefs and underlines his determination to seal a move to Real Madrid.
The episode leaves Chelsea facing a repeat of the Diego Costa saga last summer when he refused to return to the club before he was eventually sold back to Atletico Madrid.
Courtois wants to go back to Madrid, the city where his two children live and he previously played with Atletico Madrid.
He has a year left on his Blues contract and has already indicated to the club that he wants to go this summer and, if he doesn’t, he will leave on a free next summer and not for a cut-price fee in January.
Courtois has also agreed terms with Madrid for either eventuality. Madrid have time to tie up a deal for Courtois with the Spanish transfer window open until the end of the month.
But the 26 year-old’s hopes of leaving Stamford Bridge hinge on Chelsea securing a replacement before the deadline in England passes at 5pm on Thursday.
After previous first choice Alisson Becker’s move to Liverpool from Roma, Stoke’s Jack Butland is next in line.
But time is running out to get that deal done as Stoke would want to sign a replacement for £30m-rated Butland having already passed up the chance to sign other goalkeeper’s during the summer.
Chelsea were quoted £70 million by Everton for England keeper Jordan Pickford while Pepe Reina, who only joined AC Milan this summer on a free, is another option.
Reina, the former Liverpool No.1, played under Sarri at Napoli and Milan would sell for a fee of between £6m.
While Chelsea were in Community Shield action on Sunday he was being honoured by his former club Genk back in his homeland.
When he was asked about his future he said: “I’m not going to comment. It’s all delicate. I’m relaxed at the moment.”
Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.
Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.
“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.
“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].
“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
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