Thibaut Courtois, the talented goalkeeper for Belgium, has made a surprising announcement regarding his future with the national team. The 32-year-old shot-stopper has declared that he will not represent Belgium as long as Domenico Tedesco remains the manager. This decision comes after Courtois was left out of Tedesco’s squad for the European Championship in Germany this summer.
Courtois, who has accumulated an impressive 102 caps for his country, had a challenging season in 2023-24 due to a pair of knee injuries. However, he made a remarkable recovery and was fit to start for Real Madrid in their 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final. It is worth noting that this final took place less than two weeks before Belgium’s opening game at Euro 2024.
In a statement released on his social media channels, Courtois explained his decision, saying, “Following the events with the coach and after much reflection, I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his management.” This statement suggests that there may have been some conflict or disagreement between Courtois and Tedesco, leading to the goalkeeper’s decision to step away from international duty.
Last year, The Athletic reported that Courtois had previously been unhappy about being overlooked for the Belgium captaincy. When Kevin De Bruyne withdrew from the national team due to injury, the armband was given to Romelu Lukaku instead of Courtois. This decision may have contributed to the tension between Courtois and Tedesco.
Courtois acknowledged his own responsibility in the matter, stating, “In this matter, I accept my share of responsibility. However, looking forward, my lack of confidence in him would not contribute to maintaining the necessary atmosphere of cordiality.” It appears that Courtois believes that his lack of trust in Tedesco would negatively impact the team’s camaraderie and overall performance.
The goalkeeper concluded his statement by expressing his conviction that his decision is in the best interest of Belgium. He believes that it will put an end to the ongoing debate surrounding his relationship with Tedesco and allow the team to focus on their goals. Courtois also mentioned that the Belgian Federation (RBFA) has accepted his decision.
Euro 2024 marked the first major tournament for Belgium without Courtois since 2012. The goalkeeper had played in every match of the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, as well as the 2016 and 2020 Euros. This absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Belgian team, who have relied on Courtois’ exceptional skills and experience in previous tournaments.
The Athletic has reached out to the RBFA for comment on the situation, but there has been no response thus far. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of the Belgian national team and whether Courtois’ absence will have any long-term consequences.