Thibaut Courtois made an unexpected return to Real Madrid training on Thursday, cutting short his planned days off after international duty with Belgium. Xabi Alonso had originally granted him a three-day break following matches against North Macedonia and Wales, but Courtois decided to skip the rest and get back to work at Valdebebas — a decision that impressed the coaching staff.
The 33-year-old hasn’t missed a single game this season, which is why Alonso wanted to give him a few days of rest to recover both physically and mentally. But Courtois, who has rediscovered his sharpness and rhythm after last season’s knee injury, seems determined to stay fully locked in.
Alongside Courtois, David Alaba and Gonzalo García also reported back after their international commitments. The rest of Madrid’s internationals — including Vinícius Júnior, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and Brahim Díaz — are expected to rejoin training on Friday as preparations continue for the team’s next fixture.