JAKARTA - Wednesday night London time or Thursday morning WIB, Thibaut Courtois will return to his home for four years as well as return to the scene of a strange 'crime'.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper was a Chelsea player for seven years. However, when the Blues qualified for the Champions League final in the 2013/14 season, he was on loan at Atletico Madrid.
Seven years have passed since that match, but all those involved in that semi-final encounter remember him very well: Atletico, Chelsea, Courtois and then Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
The then 21-year-old goalkeeper was loaned to Atletico from Chelsea and found himself in the eye of a storm when the two teams met each other in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Both clubs agreed that players on loan would not be able to play against their parent club. Relations between the two teams are very good, there is even talk of a possible loan extension for another two years.
However, after the semifinal draw, Diego Simeone started making a fuss. He claims that it would be unfair for Atletico to lose one of their regular starters in a key position.
Atletico sent an official request to Chelsea, which the London club rejected. However, UEFA has the final say and allows Courtois to play two matches against his parent club.
UEFA claims, the clause in the contract is illegal and contrary to fair play. As a result, Los Colchoneros got rid of Chelsea in the semifinals.
Jose Mourinho, Chelsea coach at the time, was angry with UEFA's decision to allow Courtois to play and he could not understand that a player could play against his parent club, something that is not normally allowed in the Premier League.
After trying everything and failing, Chelsea decided that they would no longer allow Courtois to extend his loan at Atletico.
Furthermore, Mourinho even refused to accept the player into his squad even though Courtois finally became Mourinho's mainstay when he won the 2014-15 Premier League title.
Atletico won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge after drawing 0-0 in the Spanish capital. Atleti then faced formidable rivals Real Madrid in the final in Lisbon and lost 1-4.
Now Courtois plays for Real Madrid. Everyone at the Spanish club hopes the Belgian goalkeeper does what he has done before and once again wins against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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