Thibaut Courtois was never going to take a dig from a teammate lightly, and has hit back in stinging fashion.
The always vocal Real Madrid No.1 has returned to the Belgium national team for the first time since 2023, having sat out after a huge bust-up with manager Domenico Tedesco.
Tedesco was fired in January after a horror run, and Courtois has since returned, but not everyone is pleased.
Koen Casteels, who took Belgium’s starting berth for 2024, including the European Championships, has since withdrawn himself from selection and attacked Courtois.
The Al Qadsiah shot stopper alleged that many of the national team squad ‘do not agree’ with his return, and that Courtois has showed ‘little guilt’ meaning it was wrong of the football association to welcome him back.
In his first Belgium press conference since returning for a Nations League double header play-off against Ukraine, Courtois apologised for his absence, but then turned heel on Casteels.
“I can understand Koen, because he was number one and now I’m returning,” he began.
“But the football association wanted me back from the start, so I made myself available again. It’s not like I arranged all this myself.
“The other things he said, that there is even more dissatisfaction? No idea. If you say something, you should also name it, I think.
“I have no problem with him. I only had problems with one person, not with the players. I simply reiterated my availability.
“I don’t know what Koen is talking about when he says there are still players who think like that. In fact, if you don’t tell the whole truth, you should keep quiet.”
Seemingly agreeing with Courtois’ version of events was Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans who felt Casteels’ intervention was unhelpful.
“We certainly didn’t need that bomb from Koen in this situation,” the midfielder said.
“Of course it was discussed, but the most important thing is that Thibaut was able to clarify everything and tell his story.
“The most important thing is that he realises that certain things went wrong for the group of players, but that he indicated that he didn’t mean it that way.”
Courtois, formerly of Chelsea, initially removed himself from selection midway through an international break in July 2023.
He later revealed that it was over Tedesco’s decision to not give him the armband on his 100th appearance, an honour that went to fellow vice-captain Romelu Lukaku.
Admitting it was a mistake to abandon the national team without explanation, he said upon his Belgium return: “Obviously I apologise for how it happened, they are still having trouble accepting it.
“I can understand that there were false stories or at least not the whole truth.
“It’s hard to change the public’s opinion, the only way is to play and continue to win with the team.
“If we do that, I hope the relationship will return to what it was, I always received a lot of love.”
