Will the armband issue be resolved peacefully? The Belgian federation has launched major maneuvers to resolve the problem that arose last June with Thibaut Courtois. The Red Devils goalkeeper left the national rally after the clash against Austria, upset at not receiving the captain’s armband in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
A gesture that caused controversy, coach Domenico Tedesco refused to hide and openly blamed his doorman for his act. In the process, the Belgian got married and no one ever talked about the story again. But now it has changed. According to The Last Hour, after weeks of no exchange, the two sides have begun discussions to defuse the tension. The federation’s technical director Frankie Vercoutren and its interim CEO Manu Leroy traveled to Madrid on Monday to meet Thibaut Courtois. They discussed the matter directly, but without Domenico Tedesco.
Apparently, the purpose of the meeting was to set the first conditions for the return: the Red Devils would have to apologize for this sudden departure, in the midst of the international break. Domenico Tedesco, who will soon enter the field, wants to have a candid one-on-one talk with his keeper before considering a return for the September break, where Belgium face Azerbaijan and Estonia on September 9-12.
Negotiations have resumed and the aim is to ensure Thibaut Courtois’ selection in the future.