Chelsea keeper Thibailt Courtois joins Atletico Madrid

Last updated : 22 July 2011 By Daily Mail

After completing a medical in London last weekend, the ?7million signing from Belgian champions Genk had a brief meeting with manager Andrea Villas-Boas and met some of his new team-mates, before Chelsea left for their pre-season tour of Malaysia.

A star-struck Courtois then tried to turn his thoughts to Atletico Madrid but admitted he was finding it difficult after being greeted at Stamford Bridge by the likes of Petr Cech and Didier Drogba.

All change: Thibaut Courtois has signed for Chelsea from Genk but will join Atletico Madrid on loan

'I managed to have a brief chat with the boss and then Petr and Didier, before they set off for the airport,' said the 19-year old. 'I was thrilled to be able to meet two great Chelsea players and feel that I was actually part of the squad.

'A year ago, Chelsea were my team on PlayStation. Now they are the team I am going to play for. It felt almost unreal to shake hands with Petr and Didier and realise they were now my team-mates.'

As revealed in Sportsmail, Courtois turned down the chance to stay with Genk next season, in favour of a season-long loan with Atletico, who recently sold Spain under-21 keeper David de Gea to Manchester United.

Bizarrely, although he underwent a rigorous two-day medical in London, Atletico insisted on putting him through another in Madrid, rather than asking to see the results of last weekend's.

Starstruck: Courtois was in awe when he met his new Chelsea team-mates, including Didier Drogba (centre)

There were no complaints from the teenage prospect, though, as he said: 'I'm just looking forward to the challenge of playing in La Liga.

'I know Genk were hoping I would help them defend their title, but I wanted to test myself at the highest possible level. There are no guarantees about being first choice at Atletico, but I'm prepared to take the risk and try and prove I'm worth a place.

'If I can get a few games under my belt in Spain, it's going to help my development and make me a better keeper when I return to Stamford Bridge.'

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail