Thibaut Courtois is the present Real Madrid first-choice goalkeeper. Standing 6 feet 7 inches, Courtois is known for his exceptional shot-stopping abilities and impressive reflexes, which make him one of the best modern goalkeepers in the world.
Rising to fame while playing for Premier League side Chelsea, Courtois found his way to Bernabeu and has made his presence known since the first season. He has been proving to be a crucial asset for the Spanish record-breaking club. However, a critical injury sent the Belgian veteran into prolonged rehabilitation back in August 2023, and finally, there is news on his comeback.
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Thibaut Courtois’ ACL injury return
Real Madrid is a miracle club—a club where dreams come true. However, Los Blancos has been facing a lot of injuries this season, particularly in the goalkeeper section, as first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL injury at the beginning of the season that is to reportedly keep him out of action for the whole season. This was a major blow for the team in white, as they had to bring Kepa in as an immediate replacement on loan, which could be made permnanent at the end of the season if Courtois couldn’t come back.
The fans felt relieved after manager Carlos Ancelotti gave a word on the ACL injury to Thibaut Courtois. According to him, Courtois, who has been on the sidelines for the past 6 months, can be seen returning to action just before the much-awaited El Clasico.
According to GOAL, Ancelotti said, “The date is not defined but we have to take advantage of the national team break and then the mini break of the Copa del Rey. At that time they will do tasks with the team. After April 14th, after Mallorca, they[Courtois & Militao] could be there”.
This message was certainly appreciated by the fans, as this would prove to be a decisive move in the latter stage of the season. Nonetheless, Courtois is not the only one out due to an ACL injury; players like David Alaba and Eder Militao are also out of the season due to ACL injuries, and though Don Carlo has given a statement on Militao and Courtois, the return of Alaba is still unsure.
What was Thibaut Courtois’ injury?
The wall of Real Madrid has been out of action since August and has missed a total of 45 matches for the club. This was a massive blow to Real Madrid, who were as usual favorites to win the league and the Champions League. On August 10, 2023, the club made a statement that Courtois would be out for the rest of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL.
Courtois has shared his distress over the unexpected injury he got while doing the morning drills. He said that even though he has to now accept it, he will “come back even stronger” on the field. He also made his statement about his availability for the EURO 2024; he said, “If I’m lucky I can play another match in May. But then you can never be 100% ready for the big tournament”. This hinted that he wouldn’t be able to participate in the upcoming national tournament.
As said by Carlos Ancelotti, football fans can see the likes of Courtois and Militao back on the field in the crucial phase at the end of the season. This was truly very good news for all the Real Madrid fans who are at the top of the LaLiga table and are in the RO16 in the Champions League.
Are you eager to see Courtois back in action? Tell us in the comments section.
