Thibaut Courtois said he is “relieved” to be able to “talk everything out” with his Belgium team-mates, after returning to the national team for the first time since June 2023.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s Nations League play-offs against Ukraine, the 32-year-old addressed the “misunderstandings” that followed his exit from the Belgium camp ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Estonia.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper dismissed reports that his international exit was caused by former boss Domenico Tedesco denying him captaincy, but said his decision to leave was “impulsive”.
“There were a lot of misunderstandings, half-truths, so I was able to explain what happened. The teammates were able to ask their questions,” Courtois said.
“I’m relieved that we were able to talk everything out. Everything is clear and now we’re looking ahead. I know I made my mistakes. At that time, I wasn’t mentally 100 per cent ready to play.
“After a long season, you sometimes have impulsive reactions and that was not smart of me, that was not the best thing for the team and the supporters.”
Courtois added: “I still think the football association could have handled it better afterwards, but I also suffered a serious knee injury.
“I wasn’t ready to play at the European Championship anyway. And when a relationship with a coach breaks down it’s also difficult.
“A lot had been written that I left because I didn’t get the captain’s armband, but that’s not true. That’s the biggest disinformation.”
Belgium’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois holds up a trophy as he celebrates his 100th match with the Belgian national team.(KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Courtois, who made his senior international debut in 2011, has made 102 appearances for the Belgium national team. He said he now hopes Belgium supporters can “accept” him once more.
“I understand it was hard for the fans at the time,” he said. “I hope that they can accept me again. I understand it’s not easy, but I hope that they will support the team.”
Belgium team-mate Youri Tielemans, meanwhile, said it was important how Courtois’ exit in 2023 adversely affected the team.
“The most important thing is that he realises that some things went down badly with the group of players, but he said that he had not meant it that way,” Tielemans said.
Following the return of Courtois, fellow Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels declared himself unavailable for Belgium’s squad earlier this month.
The 32-year-old told Belgium podcast MidMid that his country’s football association is “rolling out the red carpet” for his team-mate.
Belgium face Ukraine in the Nations League on March 20 and then on March 23.
(Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)
