Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prioritised the important upcoming matches for Real Madrid over his time with the Belgium national team this international break. While speaking in an interview, he was asked about not travelling with the Belgium national football team to play the four international matches. In the extended break this time around.
Courtois has already talked about not wanting to play too much for Belgium so that he is able to manage his career and his physical health in the best way possible. It is fair to say that he has done exactly that now, with special focus towards Real Madrid's upcoming games. "I spoke with the Belgium national team coach, and I told him that I did not want to be in this Nations League because important matches with my club are coming up."
There are not many players who speak as candidly as Courtois does in interviews, and once again, he has done exactly that. Courtois knows that he is not the young player that he used to be. He knows that, in order for him to preserve his level as the best goalkeeper in the world, he would also have to play fewer games and travel fewer kilometres to be fit for his team throughout the season.
Thibaut Courtois is essentially choosing Real Madrid over Belgium at the moment
Real Madrid have some really important games in October. They play a couple of important Champions League games while also playing Barcelona and Villarreal in the league. For Courtois to be in top condition, he would have to preserve his energy levels for these games.
Doing all of this also shows just how important it is to the Belgian goalkeeper that he is choosing to play for the club and preserve his energy over playing for his national team. It is not something that many people can do. If they do that, they definitely do not talk about it in interviews because they don't want to take sides or have preferences.
However, Courtois has clearly shown that he is essentially choosing Real Madrid over Belgium at the moment. It goes to show that he knows that it is important for him to play fewer minutes this season. It is also important for Real Madrid to see him in the best possible form and with the lowest risk of injury while playing or before these big games.
Courtois is already a Real Madrid legend, and with time, people will finally figure out just how big a figure he actually is for the club. If that is not obvious already to anyone, it will be by the time he retires.
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