Courtois, expelled from the group

Thibaut Courtois, a 34-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, has revealed that he is no longer part of the Belgian players' WhatsApp group, although he keeps in touch with several teammates and is considering returning to the national team in November. In an interview with DAZN, the goalkeeper also confirmed that he expects to soon resolve the renewal with the Real Madrid's transfer market, where he has a contract until June 2027.

Courtois wants to return to Belgium without guarantees of a starting spot

Leaving the messaging group has not closed the door on Courtois's return to the national team. The goalkeeper explained that the chat is mainly used to share practical information, such as training schedules, so he downplayed his absence and assured that he is still in touch with some internationals.

The goalkeeper had considered retiring from the national team after the 2026 World Cup, but the experience during the tournament changed his plans. Belgium fell to Spain in the quarter-finals, but the atmosphere in the dressing room convinced the Real Madrid player that he could still contribute to the team.

Courtois has already communicated to the new head coach, the Dutchman Mark van Bommel, his willingness to return in November. The proposal would allow testing whether there is a fit between the veteran goalkeeper and the new sports project, without the need to guarantee the starting position in advance.

The Belgian has 115 caps and made it clear that he is willing to compete for the spot with Senne Lammens, Maarten Vandevoordt, and Mike Penders. His stance is that the coach should choose based on performance, without privileges based on career or reputation.

Van Bommel will thus have the final say on a possible call-up. Courtois's willingness facilitates dialogue, but it does not guarantee his return to the Belgian goal in the next international window.

📵 Courtois reveals he has been removed from the Belgian national team's WhatsApp group https://t.co/iPEFakdSvV

— Tiempo de Juego (@tjcope) October 21, 2026

Real Madrid prepares a new contract extension for Courtois

The goalkeeper's future at the Santiago Bernabéu is also progressing. Courtois acknowledged that talks to extend his contract are still ongoing, expressing confidence that the pending details can be resolved soon.

His current deal ends on June 30, 2027, and according to reports in October, Real Madrid is considering extending it by one more season, until June 2028. The goalkeeper explained that his agent and father still need to coordinate to address the final aspects of the agreement.

At 34 years old, Courtois remains an important piece in the club's plans. His stated intention is to extend his stay in Madrid, although the renewal has not yet been officially announced.

Courtois also weighs in on the Ballon d'Or

In the same interview, the Belgian supported Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d'Or candidacy. He believes that the Frenchman has delivered the best individual performance, although he acknowledged that the collective titles won by Lamine Yamal with Barcelona and Spain could influence the voting.

Courtois also recalled the 2024 edition when he thought Vinícius Júnior or Dani Carvajal deserved the award, which was eventually won by Rodri. His remarks reopened the debate on how much weight should be given to individual stats versus team titles.

Courtois's next step will be to finalize his immediate future on both fronts: concluding the renewal with Real Madrid and awaiting Van Bommel's decision on a possible return to Belgium in November. Neither of these matters has been officially resolved yet.

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