Mbappé rushed for the Ballon d’Or, Courtois stays at Valdebebas
In the hushed silence of the Valdebebas training centre, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois chose to stay during the international break, stating that he is putting aside his national team duties after the World Cup to devote himself entirely to Real Madrid. On Onda Cero's microphone, he detailed this decision and discussed the club's current situation, while recalling his admiration for Kylian Mbappé and the Ballon d’Or.
An exclusive focus on Real Madrid
Courtois confirmed that he will not return to Belgium as long as Real Madrid's season is not finished, emphasizing the need for total concentration. He stressed that the current international break changes nothing to his daily commitment at Valdebebas, where he works alongside his teammates. The goalkeeper also mentioned that his son, enrolled in Real Madrid's youth teams, plays as a striker and strongly resembles Mbappé.
Statements on the Ballon d’Or and football
During the interview, Courtois said that the Ballon d’Or should go back to Mbappé, describing him as the best player thanks to his speed and his goals, and criticizing the idea of awarding it to the one who has won the most titles, citing Carvajal as an example. He added that Raphinha deserves more recognition, highlighting his importance and his many goals, and insisted on the need to neutralize him during the Clasico.
Courtois backs Mbappe for Ballon d’Or while warning of Madrid turmoil
Regarding the refereeing controversy, the Belgian asserted that he does not believe in any manipulation and indicated that the reported errors are not whistled in Real's favour, but often against him. He described the situation as “I don’t understand”, where the explanations of one week are contradicted by the next.
Courtois also raised the Negreira case, reminding that everyone is awaiting the verdict of a serious matter involving FC Barcelona. He emphasized the importance of transparency in football.
Finally, the goalkeeper criticised Manchester City's sanction, calling it a falsification of the competition and suggesting that the club perhaps has not succeeded in recruiting the targeted players.