Thibaut Courtois drops bombshell: Refuses Belgium return under current coach

Real Madrid’s star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has stunned the football world by announcing that he will not return to the Belgium national team as long as Domenico Tedesco remains in charge.

The decision, shared through a heartfelt statement on Courtois’ social media, has left fans shocked and disappointed.

Thibaut Courtois decision to step back

In his statement, Courtois expressed deep love and pride in representing Belgium but revealed that recent events with coach Domenico Tedesco have forced him to step away from the national team.

Courtois said, “I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his management. My lack of confidence in him would not contribute to maintaining the necessary atmosphere of cordiality.”

This announcement follows a series of incidents that have soured the relationship between the player and the coach. Courtois was notably absent from Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign despite being a regular for Real Madrid in the lead-up to the tournament.

Tedesco’s decision to leave him out, citing fitness concerns, only fueled the tension.

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The rift between Courtois and Tedesco reportedly began when Courtois was stripped of the team captaincy in 2023. He called it a “breach of trust” and accused the coach of failing to address the issue which has now led to this drastic decision.

Courtois concluded his statement by acknowledging the disappointment his decision might cause among fans but emphasized that it is the best course of action for Belgium. “I regret possibly disappointing some fans, but I am convinced that this is the best course of action for Belgium,” he said.

With Courtois stepping back, Belgium will have to move forward without one of their most experienced players leaving a significant gap in their squad.

The situation now puts pressure on both Tedesco and the Belgian Football Federation to resolve the issue as fans eagerly await any developments.