Reconciliation Efforts: Belgium's Bid to Bring Back Courtois

Efforts are underway to reconcile Belgian coach Domenico Tedesco and Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois. Disagreements arose over Courtois not being made captain, leading to his decision to stop playing under Tedesco. Belgian football's CEO is mediating to resolve the issue.

A renewed effort to mend the rift between Belgian coach Domenico Tedesco and renowned goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has surfaced, although a timeline for Courtois's return to the national team remains uncertain. The Real Madrid star has had a fraught relationship with Tedesco since being overlooked for the captaincy last June.

Despite suffering a severe knee injury, Courtois played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's Champions League triumph before abstaining from Euro 2024. In August, the 32-year-old, with 102 national caps to his name, announced his reluctance to play under Tedesco. Belgian football's CEO, Peter Willems, has since intervened, traveling to Madrid in a bid to mediate.

"He informed me some weeks ago about it, so I knew (about the talks)," Tedesco disclosed at a press conference before Belgium's Nations League match against Italy. Tedesco expressed openness to the discussions fostered by Willems, who is optimistic about resolving the Courtois puzzle. Courtois has previously stated his stance on social media, citing grievances with the coach.

(With inputs from agencies.)