Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois plans return to play in La Liga

[Suarez™]

Thibaut Courtois wants to return to La Liga one day and intends to make a decision on his Chelsea future when he enters the final year of his contract in the summer of 2018.

The Belgium international spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid before he replaced Petr Cech as Chelsea's No 1.

He won a La Liga title in Spain and helped Atletico to the 2013/14 Champions League final, and admitted he retains a strong connection with the club.

"I feel half Spanish," Courtois told Spanish newspaper Marca. "When I said goodbye I had a bad time. It was not easy and I cried.

"Atletico is a family club. I still feel their love."

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And when asked if he plans to return to the country one day, Courtois added: "Yes, but not only because of the club, but how Madrid is and the whole country.

"From the first minute I fell in love with Spain for its people, lifestyle and food. I still maintain eating dinner and then an afternoon nap, most of the TV I watch is Spanish."

Courtois, who joined Chelsea from Belgian side Genk in 2011, is under contract at the Premier League club until the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

"I have a contract at Chelsea for three seasons," he continued. "In 2018, when I enter the final year of the contract, we will assess whether to renew or leave."