SPANISH KEEPER KEPA TO SIGN FOR CHELSEA FC | KOVACIC ON LOAN

CHELSEA FC & Belgium International goalkeeper Courtois has a shut transfer deal with REAL MADRID weeks back. However, Chelsea would not make the transfer official until the English Club has shut a quality substitute to take the place of Courtois to defend their goal.

With the transfer window shutting the 9th of August & Courtois pressuring the London Club to be let go, Chelsea has moved fast, very fast, & set target on Spanish International & Athletic Club Bilbao goalkeeper KEPA Arrizabalaga. The young Spanish promise has a 80M€ contract release clause that Chelsea FC is willing to pay. Remember Kepa was on the Real Madrid agenda as a firm-shut signing target early this year but did not eventually go through.

The news right now is that KEPA seems to have agreed to make the move over to London & is currently in Madrid talking with his representatives to shut the deal. Right now everything indicates that Kepa will be the new Chelsea FC goalkeeper for 80M€ making him the highest goalkeeper transfer record in Football. This obviously will give Courtois the green light for the official announcement by Chelsea FC of his move to REAL MADRID.

Staying with Real Madrid, it seems Croatian midfielder KOVACIC will also be heading to Chelsea FC on-loan. The player has expressed that he wishes to leave Madrid because he needs to play more, have a stable & continuos participation, instead of sitting on the bench. Real Madrid does not wish to sell but understands the players desire & has offered the option of playing a year in London. Everything here at this moment indicates that the player will take up this option, although nothing is official from the concerning Clubs. Stay tuned here. 

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SPANISH FOOTBALL LIGA TOP GOALSCORER - TOP GOALKEEPER WINNERS SEASON 2013-2014

With the Spanish Football Liga season over it is time to post about the awards winners & all other types of official ( & unofficial ) recognitions that habitually appear at the end of the season. Two very important & prestigious Awards are the Spanish Liga "Top Goalscorer" - El Pichichi - & the Spanish Liga "Best Goalkeeper" - El Zamora.

The Award for the Spanish Football Liga "Highest Goalscorer" goes to Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo with 31 goals. This number is also the "European Golden Boot Award" which will be shared with Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez.

Spanish Football Liga Top Goalscorer - El Pichichi - season 2013/2014 list:

1.Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)         31 goals
2.Messi (FC Barcelona)                         28
3.Diego Costa(Atletico de Madrid)           27
4.Alexis (FC Barcelona)                         19
5.Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)               17

The other important prize of great prestige is "El Zamora", the "Best Goalkeeper" of the Spanish Liga season. The winner is young Atletico de Madrid player Courtois who have only 24 goals scored against him. The player is currently considered the "Best Goalkeeper in the World".

Spanish Football Liga Best Goalkeeper - El Zamora - season 2013/2014 list:

1. Thibaut Courtois (Atletico de Madrid) 0,65 coefficient 24 goals
2. Iraizoz (Athletic Bilbao)          0,97         32
3. Diego López (Real Madrid FC) 1,00         36
4. K. Navas (Levante)                1,08         36
5. Asenjo (Villarreal)                  1,17        41

Congratulations to both.

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EVERYONE WANTS THIBAUT COURTOIS

Belgium International & Atletico de Madrid 21 year old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is that talk of the "Football Town". Currently & statistically the Best Goalkeeper in the Spanish Liga & after his recent performances, in European Football. An extraordinary Football talent at such a young age.

If you were in Madrid this morning & you happen to buy the Spanish Sports daily "AS" its front cover had the title that Real Madrid had the young goalie on their agenda for next season. Not a far-fetched idea as rumours are persistent that one of the two current Real Madrid goalkeepers, Iker Casillas & Diego Lopez, will be leaving next year. However, I don´t see Courtois moving from Atletico to play second fiddle. 

Other Football observers are saying, without the fanfare of a National daily front-cover, that Courtois has given his Ok to FC Barcelona next season. As everyone knows Victor Valdes is leaving at the end of the season & there is a "space" to fill. Again, hard to believe as FC Barcelona has already signed German Goalkeeper Ter Stegen & again I don't see Courtois throwing balls at Stegen in the warm-ups.

There is another important element that we need to remind, Courtois belongs to Chelsea FC & is on-loan to Atletico de Madrid. Current Chelsea FC Coach Mourinho will have a huge say on the future of Courtois. Everything indicates that Courtois will be the heir to the Petr Cech goalkeeping throne,  & is continuing with his development & Football growth at Atletico de Madrid while Cech plays out his last top level moments at Chelsea FC.

The player wishes to stay at Atletico de Madrid but the Club has not the "financial power" to sway the plans of Chelsea FC. A big offer that "no one can refuse" can perhaps change the minds of Mourinho or Club owner Abramovich, & there are only a hand full of Clubs with the money necessary, two of them Real Madrid & FC Barcelona. 

Said all this, if you have looked at the "AS" front cover this morning, have a look at the article & take it as it is, good reading with a heavy dose of speculation & marketing for issue selling. The idea is possible, everything in Football is possible, but too early to make such predictions. Lets not forget that there will be a World Cup this summer & this tournament has a way of changing established plans.

Stay tuned!

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SPANISH FOOTBALL CURRENT LEADING GOALSCORER - GOALKEEPER AFTER ROUND 17

While Spanish Football & La Liga takes its Christmas Break thought it would a good moment to update the leading Spanish Liga Goalscorer ( El Pichichi ) & Goalkeeper ( El Zamora ) after Round 17. In both cases we have Atletico de Madrid players leading the classifications which reflects perfectly how the Club is performing in Liga this season which is currently sharing top spot of the Liga ladder along with FC Barcelona.

Atletico de Madrid player Diego Costa currently leads the table as the top Spanish Football - Liga goalscorer with 19 goals, one more than the second placed Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid. Top 5 table below.

LEADING GOALSCORER ( El Pichichi )
Current standings after Round 17 of Spanish Liga

Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid) 19 goals
Cristiano (Real Madrid CF) 18
Griezmann (Real Sociedad) 11
Javi Guerra (Valladolid) 11
Pedro (FC Barcelona) 10

Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper Courtois leads the "Best Goalkeeper" in Spanish Liga . The goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea FC has been on the front pages of Spanish Sports papers theses days speculating about his future. It seems FC Barcelona has entered the picture & maybe negotiating with Chelsea FC for a transfer next season to substitute leaving Victor Valdes. However, Atletico de Madrid is also in the race & maybe making a counteroffer to retain the young goalie. The final decision will be made by Chelsea which is the "owner" of the player.

LEADING GOALKEEPER ( El Zamora )
Current standings after Round 17 of Spanish Liga

Name Coefficient Goals Games

Courtois (Atletico de Madrid) 0,65 11 17
Asenjo (Villarreal) 1,06 18 17
Diego López (R. Madrid) 1,24 21 17
Caballero (Malaga) 1,29 22 17
Roberto (Granada) 1,29 22 17

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SPANISH FOOTBALL LEADING GOALSCORER - GOALKEEPER AFTER ROUND 15 OF LIGA

The Spanish Football League - Liga - has just concluded Round 15 & this weekend has Spanish Cup matches. Good moment to have a look at which player is currently the Spanish League leading goalscorer & which goalkeeper has stopped the most goals.

In the race for the "El Pichichi" - name given to the Spanish Liga maximum goalscorer - Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo currently leads after 15 Round s with 17 goals. The Portuguese player is closely followed by Atletico de Madrid forward Diego Costa with 15 goals & who has really exploded this season. 

1.Cristiano Ronaldo (R.Madrid) 17 goals
2.Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid ) 15
3.Griezmann(Real Sociedad) 9
4.Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) 8
5.Villa (Atletico de Madrid ) 8
 

The  goalkeeping prize for the least goaled keeper in the Spanish Football League is called "El Zamora". The current leader is Belgium International & Atletico de Madrid player Courtois, he has only had 9 goals scored against him in 15 Rounds of Liga.

1.Courtois (Atletico de Madrid) Coefficient 0,60/ 9 goals 
2.Asenjo (Real Villarreal) 0,93/ 14
3.Diego López (Real Madrid) 1,13 / 17
4.Roberto (Granada) 1,27/ 19
5.Manu Herrera (Elche) 1,33/ 20

No doubt these figures & the positions will change as the season evolves. There will be more updates in coming months.

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THIBAUT COURTOIS WINS "EL ZAMORA | BEST GOALKEEPER IN LIGA 2012-2013

Atletico de Madrid 21 year old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has won the "Zamora Award" as the "Best Goalkeeper in Liga season 2012- 2013". An amazing prize for the young man who is on-loan from Chelsea FC & will continue another season more at Atletico de Madrid. The Spanish Football Club continues to attempt to "buy out " the goalie but Chelsea FC sees him as their "next generation" goalie & are happy to seehim grow, mature & evolve at Atletico.

The Belguim International was called by Jose Mourinho to follow him to Chelsea FC next season but declined the offer because he did not want to be "second" to Petr Cech. From an Atletico perspective the Club is delighted as they can count on Courtois next season where they will participate in Champions League.

Here are the final numbers & the the Top 5 goalies in Spanish Football for this season:

Name Coefficient        Goals        Games

Courtois (ATLETICO MADRID ) 0,78 28 36
Víctor Valdés (FC BARCELONA ) 1,06 33 31
Andrés Fernández (OSASUNA) 1,24 46 37
Caballero (MALAGA FC)         1,24 42 34
Claudio Bravo (REAL SOCIEDAD)   1,29 40 31

Congratulations Courtois!

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SECRET MEETING IN MADRID FOR FALCAO | AT MADRID - CHELSEA FC

If yesterday I posted that Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero was "closer" to Real Madrid for next season, today I post that Atletico de Madrid forward Falcao seems closer to Chelsea FC.

According to a Spanish late night Football TV programme, there was a "secret" meeting in Madrid between Miguel Angel Gil, Atletico owner, Jorge Mendes, Falcao representative & Peter Kenyon in name of Chelsea FC & close ally of English Club owner Roman Abrahmovic.

This meeting let know to the Spanish Football Club that Chelsea FC will go after the Colombian International for next season & that the offered salary is beyond the reach of Aletico de Madrid: around 8 M€ / season. This is a friendly way of both Clubs letting known their intentions in a gentlemanly manner.

In that same meeting the future of Atletico de Madrid current goalkeeper Courtois was discussed. At.Madrid wishes to extend for another season the players loan as Courtois is a vital piece in the current squad set-up & the youngster also has solicited to stay another year in Madrid. It seems that Courtois is now closer to staying than it was a few weeks back, the affirmation if he stays or not could be tied to a "global Falcao operation".

What does this say about Chelsea forward Fernando Torres? Bleak future at the Club some may say.

Stay tuned!

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ATLETICO DE MADRID | COURTOIS & PLAN B

Young Belgium goalkeeper Courtois has already won a place in the hearts of many Atletico de Madrid followers. The player is considered by everyone as a vital piece of the team & one cannot contemplate the future of Atletico without the goalkeeper. But the future of Courtois belongs to Chelsea FC the team that has his contract & has allowed to be on loan with the Spanish Football Club. 

Courtois has evolved at Atletico as one of the finest young talents of European Football & Chelsea FC naturally see & feel that it may be time to get back "home" to London to naturally take over from their current veteran goalie Petr Cech.

Atletico de Madrid are attempting to convince Chelsea FC in accepting a transfer & the player is expressing his true desires of staying at the Club & in the city of Madrid were he has settled in magnificently. But Chelsea does wish to sell & this forces Atletico to create a "Plan B".

AC Milan keeper Cristian Abbiati has been approached. He is an "old" Atletico as he spent season 2007-2008 at the Spanish Club on loan. The player is familiar with Atletico & the "transition" would be smooth. Another name is Osasuna keeper Andres Fernandez but this player is desired by many ( FC Barcelona for example ) & Osasuna will ask for big money in order to consider letting go their goalkeeper. 

The ideal would be to keep Courtois but the need to have in place an alternative plan is the more likely scenario & Atletico is working on it.

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CHELSEA FC GIVES AN OFFER ATLETICO DE MADRID CAN´T REFUSE ?

The Football World is full of speculation & rumour with agents & Clubs moving & dealing on a daily basis. That´s how it should be, its big business & one needs to be in the middle of it all to get advantage over rivals. CHELSEA FC is a Football "mover & dealer" & are constantly looking to get the best & ATLETICO DE MADRID forward is currently the "Best Forward in World Football".

Chelsea FC have an advantage over most Clubs with Falcao, the Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper COURTOIS is their player, he is on loan to the Spanish Football Club & Atletico does not wish to lose him & wants to have the keeper in "property" (contracted with Atletico). Courtois has become a vital piece of the resurged Atletico team that currently enjoys the Nº2 position behind Barcelona in the IFFHS ranking of World Clubs.

According to Spanish Sports paper "Sport", Chelsea has pulled out its "Courtois Card". It is written that the English Club has offered 55M€ plus their goalkeeper Courtois for FALCAO. A very tempting offer indeed for Atletico, I would imagine that Directives will be seriously thinking on it.

The only draw back is Falcao, as everything indicates at this moment ( things can change ) that his preference is REAL MADRID with some observers going as far to say that there could be a pre-agreement already signed between player & the Club.

Who should be "worried" about all this talk & rumour is Fernando Torres. The Spanish International seems to have his days at Chelsea FC counted as it is obvious that the Club thinks that he is not the player that they need.

Stay tuned!

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