Belgium are likely to miss Thibaut Courtois' service at Euro 2024 as he has decided to stay back at Real Madrid and fully recover from his ACL injury.
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Courtois won't play for Belgium at Euro 2024Will stay back at Real Madrid to recover from ACL injuryCourtois' entourage denies the claimsWHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the goalkeeper has reportedly informed Real Madrid that he will not travel to Germany with the Belgian squad for Euro 2024 next summer. Courtois will instead stay back at Los Blancos' facilities and work with the club's goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis to fully recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Just two days before the start of Madrid's 2023-24 campaign in August, the Belgian international damaged his ACL and later underwent surgery. To replace him in the squad, the Spanish giants brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea.
Getty ImagesWHAT COURTOIS' ENTOURAGE SAID
Courtois' entourage, though, have denied the story, and claim that his participation in the tournament will depend on his recovery, according to Emiliano Bonfigli. The Madrid skipper has a tenuous relationship with Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco, and turned down a call up in June after a dispute over the captain's armband — currently being rotated between squad members in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
DID YOU KNOW?
In June, the 31-year-old had a public fallout with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco after he was snubbed for Romelu Lukaku as captain during a Euro 2024 qualifier against Austria. According to the manager, Courtois was hurt by the decision and decided to leave the squad. Later, the former Chelsea goalkeeper hit back at his manager on social media for making a locker room conversation public.