Revealed: Thibaut Courtois has told Real Madrid he won't play for Belgium at Euro 2024 as star goalkeeper prioritises making full recovery from ACL injury

According to Radio Marca, the goalkeeper has reportedly informed Real Madrid that he will not travel to Germany with the Belgian squad for Euro 2024 next summer. Courtois will instead stay back at Los Blancos' facilities and work with the club's goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis to fully recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Just two days before the start of Madrid's 2023-24 campaign in August, the Belgian international damaged his ACL and later underwent surgery. To replace him in the squad, the Spanish giants brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea.

Courtois' entourage, though, have denied the story, and claim that his participation in the tournament will depend on his recovery, according to RTL Belgium's Emiliano Bonfigli. The Madrid skipper has a tenuous relationship with Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco, and turned down a call up in June after a dispute over the captain's armband — currently being rotated between squad members in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.

In June, the 31-year-old had a public fallout with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco after he was snubbed for Romelu Lukaku as captain during a Euro 2024 qualifier against Austria. According to the manager, Courtois was hurt by the decision and decided to leave the squad. Later, the former Chelsea goalkeeper hit back at his manager on social media for making a locker room conversation public.

In the Real Madrid's goalkeeper's absence, Koen Casteels has emerged as Belgium's number one in recent times and is likely to be their first-choice goalkeeper at the Euros as well. Courtois, meanwhile, is targeting a return to the pitch in time for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.