Thibaut Courtois informed Real Madrid that he would not represent Belgium at the 2024 European Championship since his first priority is fully recovering from an ACL injury.

Thibaut Courtois’ decision to remain at Real Madrid and fully recuperate from his ACL injury means that Belgium will probably be without him at Euro 2024.

In order to fully recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury, goalkeeper Thibault Courtois will reportedly stay back at Los Blancos’ facilities and work with the club’s goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis. This information is reportedly what Radio Marca reports about the goalkeeper’s decision to not travel to Germany with the Belgian squad for Euro 2024 next summer.

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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.

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.

WHAT NEXT FOR BELGIUM?

In the Real Madrid’s goalkeeper’s absence, Koen Casteels has emerged as Belgium’s number one in recent times and is likely to be their first-choice goalkeeper at the Euros as well. Courtois, meanwhile, is targeting a return to the pitch in time for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.