Thibaut Courtois’ fiancé has joined the ongoing saga of the goalkeeper’s absence from Belgium amid a battle of words with coach Domenico Tedesco.
Reports on Monday claimed Courtois did not return to the Belgian camp on Sunday as he was furious that Romelu Lukaku had been appointed captain instead of him for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Austria.
The Real Madrid stopper has insisted he is absent with a knee injury as the Red Devils prepare for their final Euro 2024 qualifier against Estonia on Tuesday night.
But other reports in Belgium said Courtois’ behavior is linked to his wedding to Israeli supermodel Mishel Gerzig next week in the south of France.
And Gerzig offered her support in two Monday night Instagram posts as the feud continued.
Thibaut Courtois’ fiancé, Israeli model Mishel Gerzig (left), waded in line over the goalkeeper who left the Belgium team after Romelu Lukaku (right) captained the national team against Austria on Saturday
Gerzig posted an Instagram photo of Courtois wearing bands around his right knee on a private jet
She also posted a message of support to her husband-to-be as the feud continues
One showed Courtois’ leg with a strap around his right knee as they traveled on a private jet. The photo was accompanied by the message: ‘The strongest person I know. I am so proud of you.’
A second post on Instagram Stories three hours later featured one of the goalkeeper posts explaining he was suffering from an injury and attached a photo of Lukaku singing the national anthem.
Gerzig wrote: ‘No one can take away the legendary player that you are, the leader, the fighter.
“You always put the team and the club in front of you and you give 1000%. Even if you are in pain. You never give up.
“I’m sorry to hear all the rumors being spread by people who were just waiting for the opportunity to put you down or hurt your name.
“Those people don’t understand that you are the definition of high-quality football.
A player who plays from the heart and a supportive, stable rock for his teammates.
A true leader, a true legend. And legends never die. By nobody.’
The spat began after the match against Austria, in which Lukaku salvaged a 1–1 draw with a 61st-minute equalizer to keep Belgium on track for next year’s European Championship in Germany.
With usual captain Kevin De Bruyne injured, Lukaku was handed the armband in a pre-planned move by coach Tedesco, with Courtois captaining the team in Estonia.
However, Courtois objected and did not show up when the team gathered at their hotel to begin preparations for their trip to Tallinn, according to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.
The 31-year-old was honored for winning his 100th cap over the weekend and Gerzig awarded him a special memento.
“Thibaut Courtois is very important to us,” Tedesco said on Saturday night. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate him.
‘On Saturday I had a conversation with Romelu and Thibaut about the captain’s armband. Against Austria it was Lukaku, against Estonia Thibaut gets the credit.
“It’s important to us that he feels valued.”
According to reports, Courtois fell in on some teammates in the dressing room after the draw with Austria.
The newspapaer then reported allegations that Courtois could not be persuaded to return to the squad in a late-night phone conversation – which lasted until 4am – with Tedesco.
Teammates believe his impending marriage played a role in his elopement. The wedding will be a two-day celebration in France with more than 300 guests.
Tedesco dismissed rumors on Monday that Courtois was injured, saying: “I wish I could say it’s an injury but I can’t lie.”
However, Tedesco’s claims have infuriated Courtois, who issued a strongly worded statement on his personal website refuting the coach’s claims.
“This afternoon I was surprised to hear the coach’s press conference in which he gave a partial and subjective account of a private conversation we had after the game against Austria,” Courtois wrote.
“I want to make it clear that it is not the first or the last time that I talk to a coach about dressing room related matters, but that it is the first time that someone decides to say it publicly.
“I am very disappointed about this, but I want to make it clear that the coach’s estimates do not correspond to reality.”
Courtois added: “I insist that I have not demanded anything under any circumstances and that I have spoken to my team-mate Romelu Lukaku to clarify all the circumstances regarding this situation.
‘Furthermore, I had a check-up yesterday afternoon because of a problem with my right knee. My club’s medical team and the national team have been in touch and have reviewed all the related material to make the decision to leave the training camp.’