Overview
- In early August, Thibaut Courtois cut his break short and resumed individual work at Valdebebas to step up recovery from the thigh problem he suffered in Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final loss to Spain.
- Courtois publicly praised Jose Mourinho’s demanding, discipline-focused approach and said the manager’s team-first methods are the right path to winning, drawing on their past success together at Chelsea.
- The goalkeeper said he returned early to be certain of his fitness before joining group sessions, a cautious step given his recent injury and earlier career issues including an ACL tear and a meniscus problem.
- Real Madrid are running a staggered preseason after the late World Cup finish, with Mourinho giving measured rest to returnees and planning backup goalkeeper cover such as Andriy Lunin if availability issues arise.
- Courtois’s visible backing and early training return make him a likely internal bridge to speed squad buy-in to Mourinho’s methods and reduce the risk of early-season injuries, so his progress toward full group work will be a key early barometer.