Thibaut Courtois’ decision to leave Belgium’s training ground ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers having not been selected as captain plunged the squad into crisis mode on Monday.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said the Real Madrid goalkeeper suddenly left the camp after he did not feel respected within the team, but Courtois disputed Tedesco’s claims and said he had left the camp with a knee problem.
Courtois told Tedesco after Belgium’s draw against Austria that he would not be available for Tuesday’s match in Estonia.
Tedesco said Courtois’ unhappiness was spilled over when striker Romelu Lukaku was handed the captain’s armband for the Austria game in the absence of injured regular captain Kevin De Bruyne.
“Together we decided that Romelu will captain against Austria and Thibaut tomorrow against Estonia,” Tedesco told reporters on Monday.
“It’s OK for everyone, but after the game he [Courtois] suddenly wanted to talk to me and said he was going home because he was disappointed and offended.
“From the start I tried to show him the credit he deserves. In my eyes he is the best goalkeeper in the world. I love him as a goalkeeper but also as a person. I was shocked.”
In a statement, Courtois said he was “deeply disappointed” by the situation and “Tedesco’s assessment does not correspond to reality.”
“It’s not the first time or the last time I’ve spoken to the coach about issues related to the dressing room, but it’s the first time someone has decided to say it publicly,” Courtois said.
“I am very disappointed with this, but I want to make it clear that the coach’s assessment does not match reality,” he continued.
“I am not demanding anything and I have spoken to my team-mate Romelu Lukaku to clarify all the circumstances related to this situation.”
Courtois added that he underwent tests on Sunday for a problem in his right knee and after consulting Real Madrid and Belgium’s medical teams, he has decided to walk out of training camp.
Tedesco, who took over the reins from Roberto Martinez after a shock first-round exit from the World Cup in Qatar last November, is not interested in Courtois’ future with the national team.
“It’s not the right time to say anything about that, because we have an important game tomorrow,” he said. “Next game in September and we’ll see.”
Courtois has earned 102 caps since making his Belgium debut in 2011, while Tedesco confirmed Matz Sels will start against Estonia and add to his two international appearances.
Belgium have four points from their opening two qualifying games in Group F, having also won 3-0 away in Sweden.
