Thibaut Courtois: Jose Mourinho says keeper will return to Chelsea
- Published
Jose Mourinho has confirmed Belgian international keeper Thibaut Courtois will return to Chelsea after three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid.
The 22-year-old helped the Spanish side to the La Liga title this season and a place in the Champions League final.
But the Chelsea boss ended speculation that Courtois will stay in Madrid.
"When the World Cup is over, Courtois will come straight back to Stamford Bridge - end of story," he said on a charity visit to the Ivory Coast.
Courtois played against his parent club in the Champions League semi-final before his side lost to city rivals Real Madrid in the final.
He is currently preparing for Belgium's opening Group H game against Algeria on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has confirmed the Blues remain keen to sign Atletico's Spain international striker Diego Costa.
Chelsea had wanted the 25-year-old to complete a £32m move to Stamford Bridge prior to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
That deadline was not met, though Mourinho is undeterred in his effort to sign the player, who featured in Spain's 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands on Friday.
"I am extremely confident we are going to get him and he'll end up signing for Chelsea," said Mourinho.
"Costa is a player I want in my team. I've asked the club to bring him in."
The Brazil-born forward scored 36 goals in 52 games for Atletico this season as they claimed their first La Liga title since 1996.
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