On 1st April, in the Camp Nou mixed zone, Thibaut Courtois spoke to the press with a big smile on his face. He was delighted to have saved his team in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals from disaster. But perhaps the grin was also because of something else. Before he gave those present a chance to get their first questions in, he gave a piece of news that was almost as exciting as the recently finished match.

"Next week there will be news about my future" he declared. This message, together with the Belgian's smile could only mean that the shot-stopper would be continuing with his much-loved Atléti.

In the Champions League draw, fate would then throw Atlético and Chelsea, the club that own him, together. This match turned everything upside down. First, because of all the carry-on regarding whether the keeper could play or not and UEFA declaring the clubs' agreement as void. And then came Mourinho saying to those close to him that Courtois might end up playing, but at the expense of another year at the Calderón.

Atlético have accepted the Portuguese manager's decision, knowing that he has wooed the Belgian with two magic words: starter status.

Standing in Courtois' way is the mighty figure of Petr Cech. Mourinho has therefore decided to put the Czech up for sale. He knows that there would not be room enough at Chelsea for both goalkeepers, perhaps after experiencing what happened with Casillas and Diego López, with the controversy ending up harming the club. The manager has opted for the young Belgian.