Thibaut Courtois’ decision to leave Belgium’s training camp ahead of a qualifying match for the Euro 2024 for not being selected as captain plunged the squad into crisis mode on Monday.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said the Real Madrid goalkeeper abruptly left camp after he did not feel respected within the team, but Courtois denied Tedesco’s claims and said he left the camp due to a knee problem.
Courtois, 31, played in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Austria, but told Tedesco after the match that he would not make himself available for Tuesday’s game in Estonia.
Tedesco said Courtois’ unhappiness spilled over when striker Romelu Lukaku was given the captain’s armband for the Austria game in the absence of injured regular skipper Kevin De Bruyne.
“Together we decided that Romelu would be captain against Austria and Thibaut tomorrow against Estonia,” Tedesco told reporters on Monday.
“That was okay for everyone, but after the match he [Courtois] suddenly wanted to talk to me and said he was going home because he was disappointed and felt offended.
“From the beginning I tried to show him the appreciation he deserves. In my eyes he is the best goalkeeper in the world. I love him as a goalkeeper but also as a human being. I am shocked.”
In a statement, Courtois said he’s “deeply disappointed” with the situation and Tedesco’s “assessments do not fit with reality.”
Courtois added he underwent a check-up on Sunday for “a problem in my right knee” and after a consultation with Real Madrid and Belgium medical teams, he decided to exit the training camp.
Tedesco, who took over the coaching reins from Roberto Martinez after a surprise first-round exit at the World Cup in Qatar last November, would not be drawn on 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. “The next games are in September and we will see then.”