Things just got juicy.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed that the club will be unable to field goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the Champions League semi-finals should the Spanish side draw Chelsea in the final four as it would trigger a clause in the Belgian keeper’s contract that would see Atleti forced to pay a significant lump sum to his parent club.

Courtois has been on loan at Atleti from Chelsea for the past three seasons and, should the two sides be drawn together, Cerezo confirmed to Spanish radio station Onda Cero that his side would have to stump up “a large sum of money” – anywhere from €2.5million to €8million across the two legs depending on which report you believe - to their opponents in order to field the 21-year-old Belgian stopper.

“The problem is whether Courtois can play if we get Chelsea in the draw,” Cerezo said. “There is something in the contract. For him to play we would have to pay a large quantity of money, a figure we cannot pay.

”As it stands, UEFA rules are in place to supposedly prevent players from being unable to feature against any other given club, though Platini’s gang are powerless to stop clubs inserting such clauses into loan contracts.

Straight from whoateallthepies.tv

@Marcus

You don't seem to know me at all. I'd be hurt to see an on-loan Ronaldo scoring against RM with United, but I wouldn't complain. A loan is a loan, and we would loan him out knowing the possibility of him playing against us.

Atletico were respecting the clause just fine (their president came out and said that they would be unable to pay the 3 Million fee because they don't have the funds), but under UEFA rules these clauses are invalid. Maybe the Chelsea board should've done their homework before making a clause like that.

"Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match."

July 2013, Celtic faced IF Elfsborg in the qualifying rounds. Celtic player Mo Bangura was on loan with Elfsborg. When the issue of his availability came up, UEFA had the following to say (emphasis mine):

"As we, in line with the FIFA regulations on status and transfer of players, consider a loan to be a transfer, we do not have any regulations regarding players not playing against their parent club whilst on loan to another club. If a player is duly registered on the player list of IF Elfsborg then he can play against any team that Elfsborg are drawn against."

"Any agreement between the two clubs that this player wouldn’t play against Celtic should Elfsborg be drawn against them is purely between the clubs. **UEFA would not have any involvement or consideration of this agreement, it would be neither endorsed or enforceable by UEFA."**

So fck UEFA !!

You're saying that like Courtois is THE ONLY reason why Atlético get in the semi-final.
Why you're so afraid of the ONE MAN then?
Isn't Chelsea strong enough to beat ONE MAN team?
Other players are average by your logic which mean they won't hurt you anyway.

If you loose, you will be happy if Atlético pays you that 6 millions? Probably yes at least you will have excuse why you lost. You just want easier semi-final, because you're scared. If you wanna be the best, beat the best.

@Fabryi

My point exactly. Thank you for clarifying.

@fabryi

Mate read my messages carefully , do not make up words that i did not say . I never used expressions as ONE man team . LOL Text is right in front of you not like you heard it . You better than that .

I did not say only reason , but one of the main catalyst of Atletico's success . It is a team sport but one player always can make a deference , during Costas absence , it was Courtois . Arsenal has experienced it themselves , impact of Ozil transfer.

Scared ? That is little childish thing to say .

Seriously we just came back from beating PSG who is more quality than Atletico if compared player for player and why would we be scared of Atletico ? I have a huge amount of respect for Atletico for the recent success and think they are strong team , but certainly do not fear of them .

If there is a team I fear , it will be Liverpool who we are to face between first leg and second leg fixtures with Atletico , on their own back yard As I know English FA rather suck TV broadcaster's c'ock than help domestic club in Champions League with extra day of rest in EPL by rescheduling match . Hence our ambitions are still to win EPL , I think it does make sense who in the right mind would allow ONE OF THEIR OWN Players to play against themselves especially if there is BREACH OF CONTRACT.

*Excuse ?

• lol our excuse has been same ever since Drogba left . NO WORLD ClASS STRIKER. ( but news broke out that Costa may not play so this excuse may get void and nullified )....

P.S. Just because one of them scored recently does not justify all the rival fans to jump on that claim like a pack of dogs . They are still not up to quality of top European side and no need to make silly arguments .
SHt Madzukic is doing way better than our strikers but yet Bayern still going to replace him with Lewandwowski , because Madzukic is good but not very good to start for Bayern . However , no one says anything about that or also when they threw away Gomez . Top team wants a top man . Nothing wrong with this if team wants to stay competitive .

Little tired of repeating myself . Again COURTOIS can PLAY . No One is forbidding him and we really can't when UEFA just changes it is rules whenever it pleases ! We did not complain about him playing in UEFA Super Cup . HOwever , this time it is different due to different contract terms . IF he is going to play than Atletico should respect contract clause that they and Courtois signed and pay up .

CHELSEA HAS THE MORAL AND LEGAL HIGH GROUND. IT IS SIMPLE Principles of Business Integrity and it is in Atletico's best interest to prioritizes business relationship and trust that has been build over the past 3 seasons . Just as simply they can field him , we can end Courtois loan because they are breaching contract , but Chelsea has a class and we expect Atletico to keep their class as well .

P.S. They do not have to pay now , they can discount Costa for us . :))

AGAIN : IF ATLETICO HAS ANY INTEGRITY AND CLASS THEY WILL PAY OR BENCH HIM THUS RESPECTING THE CONTRACT.

I am sure when you grow up , ofcourse if you get into business field , you will understand what I am saying .

This is totally illegal from UEFA to nullify contract that was signed privately between two clubs . Since when UEFA is a supreme court ? It is like a dictatorship they change their rules however they please especially when it is Chelsea .

I am 100% sure if this was other way around UEFA would stay out of this and all of you my dear hating fans would have advocated towards contract and once again against Chelsea .
THIS IS HOW HATERS LOGIC WORKS. It is alright mates , I never loose my sleep over such things .: ))))

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo had some comments for AS making it clear how the club feel about UEFA's statement on Friday:

"I don’t know how many times I've repeated it, Courtois is Chelsea’s player. We’re trying to get him on loan for another season. I think he’ll end up playing against them, but only if we reach an agreement with Chelsea. We’re gentlemen and we observe everything we sign."

"I don’t know. I think he’ll play, but with an agreement between both parties. If he doesn't play, Aranzubia will come in."

Just what i expected from the good guys at atletico