Thibaut Courtois isn’t exactly an adored figure amongst Atletico Madrid fans. At least, not these days, that is, because the Belgian shot-stopper was indeed a huge hit across a three-year loan spell at the club between 2011 and 2014 that ultimately launched his career into the stratosphere.
The Chelsea loanee bagged back-to-back Ricardo Zamora Trophies between the sticks for Los Rojiblancos as well as winning the La Liga title and reaching a Champions League final.
And while their initial divorce was an amicable one with Courtois recalled to his parent club, let’s just say that the goalkeeper’s eventual return to Spain wasn’t met with quite the same level of understanding.
That’s because Courtois took the decision to sign for Atletico’s fiercest local rivals, Real Madrid, cuing furious responses from certain sections of support on the red and white side of the city.