Courtois faces the music and hopes controversy over self exile is over

BRUSSELS – Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said on March 18 that he had thrashed out the circumstances of his lengthy exile from the national side with teammates on his return, and hoped the controversy over his almost two-year absence was now settled.

Courtois, 32, has not played for Belgium since June 2023 when he walked out ahead of a European Championship qualifier in Estonia, but after a change of coach he is back in the squad for this week’s Nations League play-offs against Ukraine on March 20 and 23.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper, who has 102 caps, said his walkout had nothing to do with being denied the captaincy, as was reported at the time, but a breakdown in his relationship with then coach Domenico Tedesco, who was replaced by Rudi Garcia in January.

Courtois conceded he might have better handled the confrontation with the coach and regretted misunderstandings with his teammates. However, he felt there was no way back with Tedesco after their relationship broke down.

He struck a conciliatory tone but insisted he would remain opinionated, as he answered a barrage of questions over his lengthy absence – which has divided opinion in Belgium – at a press conference on March 18.

“I am who I am,” he said.

Courtois spoke to teammates a day earlier after joining up with the squad in Belgium.

“There were a lot of misunderstandings, half-truths, so I was able to explain what happened. The teammates were able to ask their questions,” he revealed.

“I’m relieved that we were able to talk everything out. Everything is clear and now we’re looking ahead. I know I made my mistakes. At that time, I wasn’t mentally 100 per cent ready to play.

“After a long season, you sometimes have impulsive reactions and that was not