Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the Belgian national team, issued a fiery statement announcing that he will not play for his country until the coach is changed. Courtois has been in disputes with Domenico Tedesco, the coach of the Belgian team, over not being granted the captain’s armband during the match against Austria last year, which was instead given to his teammate Romelu Lukaku. The coach’s decision caused feelings of frustration and humiliation, as described by the coach, which led the goalkeeper to feel great anger at the coach for revealing private conversations between them.
Courtois wrote on his account on “X”: “I would like to address the fans of Belgium and the national team. I feel love and pride representing my country on the field, as does each one of you who supports the team.” He added: “I feel privileged as I have had the honor of wearing the national team jersey; I never even imagined in my dreams that I would be able to do this more than 100 times.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, after the events with the coach and after much thought, I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his management. In this matter, I accept my share of the responsibility.” The goalkeeper further stated: “That said, looking to the future, my lack of confidence in him will not contribute to maintaining the necessary friendly atmosphere. I have had discussions with the Belgian football association, and they accept my position and the reasons that led me to this painful decision.”
He concluded: “I apologize for the disappointment of some fans, but I am convinced that this is the best course of action for Belgium, as it closes the discussion and allows the team to focus on pursuing its goals. Thank you for your unwavering support, love, and understanding.”
