Report: Courtois goes AWOL amid £35M bid from Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois failed to report to Chelsea as scheduled Monday in hopes of forcing a move to Real Madrid, according to The Telegraph's Matt Law.
The news comes after Madrid reportedly submitted a £35-million bid for the Belgian shot-stopper.
Courtois was expected to join several other teammates, including fellow internationals Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi, at Chelsea's training ground. He was also due to appear at Wembley for Sunday's Community Shield, but instead took part in a ceremony where he was honored by former club Genk.
The goalkeeper's agent said on the weekend that his client wants a move back to Spain to be closer to his family. His ex-wife, whom he met during his time at Atletico Madrid, is raising their three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son in the Spanish capital.
Manager Maurizio Sarri told reporters after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City that he only wants players "with very high levels of motivation." The Italian had hoped to meet Courtois on Monday to discuss his future with Chelsea.
With the 26-year-old entering the final year of his contract and an offer on the table, Chelsea are now said to be interested in signing Stoke City netminder Jack Butland as a replacement. Law believes a bid of around £25 million would convince the Potters to sell the English international.
The Blues have until Thursday's transfer deadline to complete a potential deal.