Not seen since Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid break 9-year policy for key player

Real Madrid will reportedly make an exception for one of their top players, breaking a policy that has stood for nearly a decade. The last time they made a similar decision was for Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish giants plan to offer Thibaut Courtois a contract extension next month that would keep him at the club until June 30, 2027—even though his current deal is still valid for another year. The move stands out given the goalkeeper’s age: 33.

In recent years, Real Madrid have maintained a strict policy of not offering contract extensions longer than one year to players over the age of 30. The rationale behind this is to protect the club’s interests against the risks associated with long-term deals for aging players, such as injuries or dips in performance.

The last time Los Merengues made an exception of this kind was in November 2016, when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo to a five-year contract just before his 32nd birthday. That deal, however, was not completed in full, as the Portuguese forward transferred to Juventus in mid-2018 for a fee of over $100 million.

Thibaut Courtois playing for Real Madrid

Stars whose contract renewals became complicated at Real Madrid

In the nine years between Cristiano Ronaldo’s extension and this reported offer to Thibaut Courtois, many over-30 players faced Real Madrid’s rigid contract policy—and not all situations ended the same way.

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One of the most emblematic cases was that of Sergio Ramos. Despite being one of the most important players in the club’s history, he was forced to leave in 2021 due to disagreements over the terms of his renewal. Reports indicated he wanted a two-year extension, while president Florentino Perez was unwilling to budge. The dispute ended with Ramos leaving for Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 35.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also reflect Real Madrid’s firm stance in these negotiations. Both were key players for more than a decade, but after turning 30, they had to renew their contracts on a year-by-year basis until their eventual departures. Kroos retired in 2024, while Modric left this summer to continue his career with AC Milan.

Courtois’ importance to Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s willingness to make an exception for Courtois underscores the goalkeeper’s importance to the team. He joined the club in 2018 from Chelsea in a deal worth around $40 million. Since then, he has played 282 matches and won 14 trophies, including three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles.