Thibaut Courtois has announced his return to the Belgian national team after a nearly two-year absence.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper had previously fallen out with former coach Domenico Tedesco.
## What happened?
Thibaut Courtois was denied the captain's armband by Tedesco in June 2023, leading to a public feud.
Courtois accused Tedesco of lying about the situation and subsequently left the team.
Koen Casteels took his place in goal, but has now resigned from the team in protest of Courtois' return.
## Why it matters for Thibaut Courtois
Courtois' return to the national team has been made possible by the appointment of new coach Rudi Garcia.
Garcia has publicly praised Courtois as the "best goalkeeper in the world".
But Casteels has criticized the team for "rolling out the red carpet" for Courtois.
## What comes next?
The controversy surrounding Courtois' return is likely to continue, with Casteels emphasizing that the issue is still a problem within the team.
Some players reportedly agree with Casteels' stance, according to the former Wolfsburg professional.
Courtois has responded to Casteels' comments, saying he understands why his rival is upset but denying any wrongdoing.
The Belgian national team narrowly avoided relegation in the Nations League after failing to win the European Championship.
Tedesco was sacked as coach in January 2025, with Garcia taking over the role.
Courtois has won two World Goalkeeper of the Year awards, in 2018 and 2022.
He has been a key player for Real Madrid, helping the team to numerous victories.
But his relationship with the Belgian national team has been strained in recent years.
And now, with his return to the team, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
So the coming months will be crucial for Courtois and the Belgian national team.
But for now, Courtois is focused on his return to the team and helping them to succeed.
The team's next fixture is eagerly anticipated, with fans waiting to see how Courtois will perform.