Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois was interviewed by Cadena SER. In the fourth part of this exclusive interview, Courtois discussed his childhood aspirations to play for Real Madrid, his feelings about joining the club in 2018, and his past with Atlético Madrid.

Later, you returned to Madrid, joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2018. At that time, Real Madrid had just won three consecutive Champions Leagues under Zinédine Zidane, in 2016, 2017, and 2018. You said it was a dream come true, as you had dreamed of playing for Real Madrid since childhood. When you started playing football, was Real Madrid your favorite club back in Belgium?

Not when I was 5 years old, to be honest. Back then it was Club Brugge, then Genk. Abroad, there was Real Madrid and Chelsea, and I also liked Manchester United because of Van der Sar. But once I started playing as a goalkeeper, I paid particular attention to Iker Casillas, and to Real Madrid as well, so of course I watched their matches.

My mother is a physiotherapist, and she had a client who went to the Bernabéu often, two or three times a year. He would bring me Casillas shirts. I had a huge Bernabéu flag in my bedroom. It's interesting—I think you have a colleague, Adra, who mentioned it later when I joined Real Madrid. He had seen a report about me on a small local television channel in Belgium, and the flag in my bedroom was visible in the footage.

But when I joined Atlético Madrid, they certainly didn't broadcast those images, because it might have been a bit awkward. But actually, it wasn't just Real Madrid; I also had flags of Chelsea and other teams in my bedroom. A child growing up in Belgium naturally has many different idols and teams.

In the end, you dream of joining many clubs and watching many matches. I love football and I watch a lot of it, but Real Madrid was always my dream. It has always been that way. So it's wonderful to be here, and not just to be here.

Did you ever think, after coming here, that you could also win the Champions League? After all, you had never won it before.

Of course, that was the objective. But I have to say that you can never take it for granted. Look at Mbappé; after he came here, Paris Saint-Germain ended up winning twice. That's football.

I remember that after the Lisbon final, I went back to Chelsea. I saw Sergio (Ramos) celebrating on a huge Sky Sports poster, and I thought: "My God, now I have to watch celebrations like that." Of course, every year you do your best, hoping that one day you can go all the way. But reaching a Champions League final is not easy, it's very difficult, and winning the final is even harder. So when the Paris final (2022) came around, I felt that I had to win.

It was your Champions League, this Champions League was full of twists and turns, and in a way it was also your Champions League because you made so many saves. I've read many reports and interviews with Modric, Kroos, and other players, and they all said: "With Courtois, it's like a child shooting at me." In other words, they had the feeling that you would never let the opponent score.

Yes, but in the end, we still concede goals in some matches. For example, in that home match against Chelsea, we were clearly behind. But ultimately, I always managed to make a few crucial saves in those matches. I think that if you want to go far in a competition or cup, you need to score goals, and at the same time try not to concede any, and you also need to have an excellent goalkeeper. That's how it is in the end.

You also mentioned Atlético Madrid earlier. You said that over time, you had a different perspective on that experience. You said: "It's a good thing your colleagues didn't broadcast that photo when I was at Atleti." I remember when you joined Atlético Madrid in 2011, it was the summer under Manzano. Especially later, when you returned to the Metropolitano representing Real Madrid, facing so much criticism and hostility at first. Do you still think now that if you could, you would take back that statement at the time: "I am on the right side of history"?

Related reading: Courtois's comment about being on the right side of history after the 2014 final draws criticism from Atlético fans.

No. Because that statement had nothing to do with them. I think some people interpreted it as being against Atlético, but it wasn't. If they didn't understand it back then, I can explain it again: that statement was absolutely not aimed at them.

At that time, the journalist was asking questions about the match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. There had already been a final in 2018, and I was just saying that I was on the right side of history. In my mind, I wasn't even thinking about what happened 8 years before. So it's easy for some people to make the connection between the two, but that wasn't the case.

I have always had great respect for Atlético Madrid, because that experience made me who I am today. I am proud of that experience because I won the Europa League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and La Liga there, and I also reached a Champions League final.

That experience made me fall in love with Spain, gave me two beautiful children, and made me love Spain and Madrid. So that period brought me many good things. Therefore, I would never say anything bad about Atleti. After my return here, I think there are many Atlético fans, and sometimes when I meet them in the street, they ask me: "Why did you leave?" But I left because I was injured.

I think some people might not understand that. I understand the rivalry between the two clubs. But from day one, they would throw things at me like mice, all sorts of things happened at the stadium. Of course, sometimes my performance on the pitch can also be aggressive, because that's part of the game. But if you're willing to give something to your opponent, you also have to be able to take their response.

That's how it is. Derbies are always big matches. We have now... last year we lost, and this year too. When we play them again at the Bernabéu, I hope we can get our revenge. But actually, I quite enjoy these matches. Even the booing, not too serious, or derby-related things that happen on the pitch, I have no problem with that. That's football.

But if someone throws lighters or things like that, that's different, because that could really hurt you. Apart from that, in the end, it's just football.

The match the other day seemed to be the first time since your return to the Metropolitano that you weren't the center of too much attention. There was also much less reporting about you in the days leading up to it.

Yes, but think about it—I left in 2014, so that's now 12 years ago. You can't keep dwelling on the same thing forever. In the end, football moves on, and so do they. That experience will always remain in history because I won titles and trophies with that team and achieved those results. That's all.

I think a lot happens every day, and many players leave. In the end, what really lasts are the fans—whether they're Real Madrid fans, Atlético fans, or fans of other teams. I think the fans are the most important. As players, we can only do our best to add our own chapters to the club's history and be part of the club's legacy. That's all.

Traduit par IA.

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