Thibaut Courtois, the renowned goalkeeper of Real Madrid, has confirmed his return to the Belgium national team, nearly two years after his last appearance with the national squad. Courtois' absence from the Belgian call-ups was due to a conflict with the previous head coach, Domenico Tedesco, who was responsible for the fallout. However, after a conversation with the current head coach of the national team, Rudi García, the goalkeeper has decided to rejoin the national side. This news has been celebrated by the Belgian fans, who are eager to have Courtois as one of the key players for the future of the team.

Courtois' return under the guidance of Rudi García

Rudi García, the head coach of the Belgian national team, confirmed Courtois' return in an interview with L'Equipe. The coach revealed that he had a meeting with the goalkeeper in Madrid before the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, where Courtois expressed his desire to return to the national team. According to García, this is excellent news for Belgian football, as having Courtois in the team is crucial for the country's aspirations. This return represents a significant reinforcement for Belgium's goalkeeping, especially with the upcoming international challenges.

Thibaut Courtois has stated on several occasions that one of his major goals is to play in the 2026 World Cup. In previous interviews, the goalkeeper made it clear that his desire to return to the national team was driven by that goal. In his latest statement, Courtois revealed that he had had some issues with the previous head coach, but that there was never a conflict with the players. This clarification reassures the Belgian supporters, who hope that the arrival of Rudi García will bring a fresh approach and resolution to the past issues.

The relationship with the previous head coach

Despite his prolonged absence, Courtois always made it clear that his conflict was not with the group of players but with the previous head coach of the national team, Domenico Tedesco. In several interviews, the goalkeeper emphasised that he always maintained a good relationship with his teammates and that the disagreement was solely with the coach. With the change of coach, the situation seems to have improved, allowing for the reconciliation of Courtois with the national team. This decision to return to the team is an important step for the stability of Belgium, which will now be able to count on one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

With Courtois back, the Belgian national football team strengthens its position for the upcoming international competitions, with the 2026 World Cup as the main goal. The presence of one of the best goalkeepers in the world will be key to the team’s aspirations in the coming years. Now, the challenge will be to integrate Courtois into Rudi García's project, who is leading a new era for the Belgian team, aiming to rejuvenate and achieve new goals in world football.