Thibaut Courtois (Bree, 28 years old) he has never worn a club number 1 in his entire career. Not at Genk, not at Atlético, not at Chelsea. He has always sported the 13, the only exception being the selection: there you did see 1. This season, Real Madrid has asked him to take it and he assumes it with responsibility. Through his website he has published a text explaining how he feels at this moment and has sent a wink to other great goalkeepers who took him, among which stands out Boxes.
“Play with him number 1 it has an important symbolic value. I have to follow in the footsteps of true Real Madrid idols such as Casillas, Zamora, Illgner or Buyo. It is no secret that Iker is my greatest example among all those legendary goalkeepers. Like him, I hope to make history with this 1 behind my back and make the whole Madrid family proud, “he wrote.
Casillas and Courtois greet each other during a meeting.
AS newspaper
It was not his decision. He was comfortable with 13 and he says so, but Real Madrid asked him to change his number and assumed the stripes. “For most people it may come as a surprise that during about 11 years and more than 430 games with clubs I've never worn the number 1 on my back. Only in youth and with Belgium. I can remember great moments with the number 13, but now i'm excited with chasing new goals with this shirt, “he said.
A Zamora on the rise
This has undoubtedly been his year. He arrived in Madrid wrapped in a sea of doubts and nerves, but little by little he established himself until he was indisputable and return the Zamora trophy to the white cabinets after eleven years of drought. This season has played 43 games (3,855 minutes) between all competitions, receiving 32 goals and leaving a clean sheet 21 times. For the campaign that comes in will have new competition: Andriy Lunin. Youth squeezes from behind and 1 cannot relax.