Courtois Seeks Redemption as He Returns to Belgium Squad
Thibaut Courtois has officially ended his international exile, rejoining the Belgium squad after nearly a year away. The Real Madrid goalkeeper, 32, had been absent from national team duties following a fallout with former coach Domenico Tedesco in June 2023, which saw him leave a Euro 2024 qualifying camp.
Now, under new manager Rudi Garcia, Courtois is back and likely to feature in Belgium's upcoming Nations League play-off against Ukraine.
Speaking to the media, Courtois acknowledged past mistakes and expressed hope for fan acceptance. "There were misunderstandings and half-truths, and I wanted to clear the air with my teammates," he said. "I know I made mistakes, and at that time, I wasn’t mentally 100% ready. After a long season, emotions can get the better of you, and I regret how things unfolded."
Reports had initially suggested Courtois left due to being overlooked for the captaincy, but he dismissed this as "the biggest disinformation." He also pointed out that a serious knee injury would have ruled him out of Euro 2024 regardless.
Despite past tensions, Courtois is eager to focus on the future. "I understand it was difficult for the fans, but I hope they can accept me again and support the team," he added.
Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans emphasized the importance of Courtois addressing the situation. "He realizes some things didn’t go over well with the squad, but he made it clear that was never his intention," Tielemans stated.
With Courtois back between the posts, Belgium looks to move forward as they prepare for key matches ahead.
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