Real Madrid has performed exceptionally well this season, securing the top spot on the La Liga points table, 8 points ahead of their bitter rivals and defending champions, Barcelona. They are swiftly moving towards their 36th Spanish League title, even though, they’ve been without their star goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, in goal.
In August 2023, the Belgian keeper suffered an ACL injury just before the start of the current 2023–24 season. This prompted the Spanish club to secure Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season-long loan as his replacement. As Courtois was on the road to recovery, another setback forced him back to the sidelines.
Thibaut Courtois’ latest injury likely to end his season
Thibaut Courtois was expected to miss the entire 2023–2024 club campaign following surgery for an ACL injury, as he focuses on his recovery and return to the pitch. The keeper himself has ruled out the possibility of playing in UEFA EURO 2024, thereby not representing the Belgium national team in Germany this summer.
In recent developments, the 31-year-old was just weeks away from making his return after recovering from surgery and had resumed training sessions. He is expected to rejoin club duties after the ongoing March international break, providing a significant boost to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the remainder of the season.
Unfortunately, the former Chelsea goalkeeper suffered another major setback—a meniscus tear in his right knee during training. Visibly distraught, he left the training facilities in tears. This means his anticipated return will be further delayed, making it unlikely for him to feature in the ongoing season.
Madrid confirmed the reports with a statement on Tuesday, saying, “Following tests carried out today, Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with a ruptured internal meniscus in his right knee. The injury, which occurred during today’s training session, will be monitored.”
Exploring Thibaut Courtois injury history
Thibaut Courtois has had an incredible journey since his transfer to Santiago Bernabéu from Stamford Bridge in 2018, solidifying his position as one of the top goalkeepers in Europe.He has made a substantial contribution to Real’s success, playing a key role in winning two La Liga titles, three Spanish Super Cups, a UEFA Champions League trophy, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
Since the 2018–2019 season, the Belgian international has missed only 18 games for the Spanish outfit. However, this season, he hasn’t made any appearances, missing a total of 50 club matches in all competitions after sustaining two back-to-back injury setbacks.
