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In the traditional presentation meal of the new signings at the Bernabéu, with his family, his agents and the Madrid board at the table, Thibaut Courtois was told about his height. It is true that the goalkeeper at first sight impresses, so spiky, with traces of the volleyball player he was, like his father. One of the guests at that lunch joked about his chances in the rival area, how well he would finish off the corners, for example. He replied that they were right; and that as a kid, in his early days in football, he climbed a lot to finish off. At that time, yes, he played sideways, a rare position also for his height. "He scored goals, enough," he said between toasts for a future of success dressed in white.

This conversation came to the memory of those present on December 15, when, without waiting, they saw Courtois climb decisively to the last corner of Valencia-Madrid, in Mestalla. They lost the targets 1-0, after dominating the first part without aim. The Belgian goal did not look at the bench, before pulling towards the opposite goal. "It was his decision , " Zinedine Zidane would later explain, happy with the last draw. Benzema's goal came from a rejection caused by the violent auction of Courtois, an unstoppable skyscraper for the Valencian defense. His presence caused the bewilderment of the rival, without enough troops or centimeters to stop the unexpected striker.

He hopes Zidane doesn't need his team of such extreme solutions tonight, despite even the casualties of Benzema and Bale. Courtois quite a job should be in his position, stopping at the front of Celades and leading his own defense, as he has been doing for a few weeks. Its rise in level, with important stops on each day, and the general improvement of defensive work have allowed Madrid to keep the head of the table, tied with Barça.

In fact, the Belgian also appears at the head of the classification of the less thrashed, along with Oblak , something unusual in recent times in white goalkeepers. Since 2008 the Zamora trophy does not win a player from Madrid (Casillas). Courtois wants it, but before others. The Super Cup, without going any further.

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Know more

  • Thibaut Courtois
  • Zinedine Zidane
  • Gareth Bale
  • sports
  • First division
  • Spain Supercup
  • Real Madrid
  • Valencia CF

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