Courtois insists Chelsea are 'one of the best clubs in the world'

Thibaut Courtois has urged Chelsea's eventual new owners to take the Stamford Bridge helm aware they are buying 'one of the best clubs in the world'.

The Belgium goalkeeper will be back on his old Stamford Bridge stomping ground when Real Madrid pitch up for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Four rival consortiums are locked in negotiations to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, who is selling the west London club amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.

And the 29-year-old Courtois called on Chelsea's suitors to keep the Blues at the top of the world game.

'I think it's been a hard month for the club and for the fans, but I think you can see that all the people that love Chelsea are really putting all their energy together,' said Courtois.

'The new owners must know what club they are buying. And hopefully they can keep that spirit that has always been here.

'In total I was part of Chelsea for seven years, and that was a big part of my career.

'They gave me the chance to grow myself, to come back and to learn with Petr Cech. And I won two Premier League titles, so I'm always happy to come back here.

'I hope the new owners will understand what they are buying and that Chelsea can remain as one of the best clubs in the world.'

Courtois will come face-to-face with international team-mate Romelu Lukaku in Wednesday's clash.

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