Courtois case: the first official ‘victim’

The Courtois affair is set to stir high drama in Belgium, as the Real Madrid goalkeeper is widely expected to be recalled to the national team this week following the dismissal of former coach Domenico Tedesco. His imminent return has already sparked reactions both in Belgium and within the squad. One of them — fellow goalkeeper Koen Casteels — has kept his word and officially bid farewell to the Red Devils, quitting the team in protest over Courtois’s reinstatement.

“Today we were informed of Koen Casteels’s decision to retire from international duty with the Belgian Red Devils. Although we regret his choice, we want to sincerely thank Koen for his years of dedication and for the moments we shared together,” the federation announced in a statement.

The Al Qadsiah keeper, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, had already made his position clear the day before in a podcast. “As of today, I am no longer available for the national team,” he said. “I find it a bit strange that Courtois can decide on his own whether he wants to come back. And I find it strange that the federation changes its mind like this and rolls out the red carpet for him,” he explained.

For his part, sporting director Vincent Mannaert admitted he was taken aback by Casteels’s decision. “He said that, at 32, he is at a different stage of his career. He wants to fully focus on his club in Saudi Arabia. I haven’t heard anything from other players about having issues with Courtois’s return. I imagine that certain statements made by Thibaut may have surprised some players. But since I joined the Belgian Football Association, I’ve spoken with several players and no one ever gave me this signal before.”

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