Courtois denies reports he is dreading Conte or Mourinho joining Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois has moved to deny comments made referring to Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho becoming Real Madrid manager.

The Belgian goalkeeper has threatened legal action after a report in El Pais claimed he left Chelsea to get away from his former managers.

Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after a poor run of form, but Courtois insists the quotes attributed to him are false and that he wants a full retraction due to the harm it has caused him professionally.

"I want to categorically deny the information published today by El Pais in reference to my character," Courtois said.

"It included lies that harm me as a professional and I expect a retraction by taking legal action."

El Pais previously said Courtois reacted to the rumours by saying: “I cannot believe it. Here I am the only one who has worked with Conte and with Mourinho.

"I left London to not have to go through something like that again and now it turns out that Conte comes, and if not, Mourinho.”

Courtois left Chelsea on bad terms, with the goalkeeper failing to return for pre-season after the World Cup despite a move to Madrid yet to be finalised.

After initially being forced to sit behind Keylor Navas, Courtois has assumed the starting role in La Liga, but has been rotated in the Champions League.

The Blues were forced to sell Courtois this summer with just one year remaining on his contract and the player's refusal to pen new terms.

A €35m fee was agreed before the Blues signed Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world record £71m from Athletic Bilbao.

Courtois will be back in action this weekend for his first clasico against Barcelona, knowing a loss could mean the end of Lopetegui and the potential arrival of Conte, who also left Chelsea last summer after being fired, due to his current availability.