Courtois explains why Real Madrid remains his priority

“My priority is Madrid; I owe everything to them,” Courtois said, explaining why he puts Real Madrid ahead of Belgium.

The goalkeeper says he spoke with Van Bommel and set out his reasoning. In his view, the schedule is already demanding: he points to numerous matches in September, followed by difficult fixtures, and says the games keep coming without a break. He adds that friendlies give teams a chance to try new players in a different setting, whereas in Nations League matches everyone wants to win to avoid dropping a category.

Courtois says Van Bommel told him he could not guarantee him a place if he decided to return. The goalkeeper says he has never taken his position for granted and that it is a weekly contest on the pitch. He adds that they can discuss it again during other international breaks and that he could then join the national team.

To explain his decision, Courtois recalls that he was injured against City last season, after a long period without injuries. He says he looks after himself and wants the best version of Courtois to be at Real Madrid. He does not want to return from an international break tired and perform less well against Villarreal; he describes his choice as a sign of respect for his club.

Courtois also says Real Madrid demands that its players remain hungry for trophies. He notes that he is entering his ninth season at the club and is still surprised to be there. On the Ballon d’Or, he says Kylian deserves it and says Mbappé’s speed and goals are impressive.

The goalkeeper also describes a change in how he reacts: last year, he says, he was more prone to anger, but now he is calmer. He also defends his honesty, while saying that in the mixed zone he cannot say everything because he has to protect his team. In the Copa del Rey final, he acknowledges, he made a mistake; he adds that goalkeepers pay a heavier price for errors than forwards do.