I hope courtois has the

so you have no proof because honestly I have heard the same but cannot find it written anywhere.

comment by OOH_AH_Cantona (U3577)
posted 6 minutes ago
Chelsea Ron Gourlay has also said he can play as long as athletics pick him, Chelsea never thought anything different.
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Doesnt mean there wont be a fee involved.

Chelsea have never said he couldnt play and will not try and stop him

"In response to media reports referring to the situation of Club Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, UEFA would like to reiterate its position.
The integrity of sporting competition is a fundamental principle for UEFA.
Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match
It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.
Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly."

Is it me or did anyone else notice that Gourlay was trying to hide a smug grin on his face when he was saying that Courtois has always been free to play against Chelsea "If selected". He reiterated the if selected part twice.

Do I get the feeling that he knows something that we don't especially as the word on the street is that they will not play him as they want to keep us sweet for the contract renewal at the end of the season.

To be fair it would be quite sporting for Chelsea to forego the fee I mean not many would expect Athletico to be in the CL Semi Final.

King the fee will not stand up anyway as UEFA have already said that they will not accept such an arrangement. To go against that would be asking for sanctions from them.

I believe that they will not play him for the sake of the bigger picture.

Damned if they do and damned if they don't really...

so they are giving up on a champions league throphy just to keep courtois for one more year? sorry but thats very sad

It could be more than just one year as Cech may still have a few more years in him. Personally if I were them I would play him and be dammed but hey ho, different strokes for different folks.

Pretty sure they aren't allowed to loan him for another year. So if they can play him, then there's no reason for them not to.