Just when Real Madrid fans were anticipating the return of their guardian angel from his ACL injury, their hopes were dashed as Thibaut Courtois suffered a fresh knee injury, compelling him to leave training in tears.
The Belgian goalkeeper just a couple of days ago suffered from a torn meniscus in his right knee.
While tests revealed the injury was not as serious as initially feared, Courtois will be obliged to undergo surgery once more and spend the rest of the season out on the sidelines.
With Courtois officially ruled out of the season, the onus is on his replacements Kepa Arrizabalaga and Andriy Lunin to step up and take on the responsibility of closing the season on a high note.
Kepa and Lunin were upset to hear Courtois’ injury news
Now, as per Jorge Picón two of the teammates most hurt by Courtois’ injury were his ‘rivals’ in goal – Kepa and Lunin.
According to the report, Kepa especially took the news to heart. Despite being direct competitors in the squad, few would understand the pain Courtois is enduring better than someone who shares his position.
Likewise, Lunin found out after getting off a flight, with the Ukrainian equally distraught upon hearing the news.
The report goes on to add that throughout Courtois’s recovery period, both have felt incredibly close to him.
The 31-year-old Champions League winner has been quite close to both teammates these past few months, serving as a counselor to each of them.
The ex-Chelsea man offered words of encouragement to Kepa when he was benched and to Lunin at the start of the season.
And even though the Belgian was unable to play, Courtois remained one of the moral and ethical leaders in the dressing room.
Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
