Real Madrid are facing the possibility of an extended period without superstar goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after reports of an ‘indefinite’ absence due to sciatica pain in his back.
Courtois missed out on Real’s 1-1 draw against Osasuna this weekend, and journalist Sergio Valentin has now reported he will also miss Wednesday night’s fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Valentin believes there is no return date set for Courtois, with treatment and recovery from sciatica issues varying wildly from person to person. These reports have also been backed up by prominent Real Madrid focused journalist Lucas Navarrete, who says he could be missing for weeks.
The Belgian goalkeeper is a key player for the Spaniards and started in the 3-0 victory over Celtic at Paradise, making four saves in the match and distributing the ball efficiently to kickstart attacks with 93% pass completion.
He made his dream move to Real Madrid back in 2018 for a reported fee of £35m. [ESPN]
He’s gone on to play 190 times, helping keep 77 clean sheets. The 30-year-old was named in the Champions League team of the season last term on the way to Madrid’s famous win.
The news is undoubtedly a boost for Shakhtar, who visit the Bernabeu in the search for a positive result this week. Celtic don’t travel to Spain until the last group game on 2nd November – but it sounds like Courtois’ issues could even extend until then.
Courtois’ deputy is 23-year-old prospect Andriy Lunin, who has only played a handful of times for the club. He featured at the weekend and will see this as his big opportunity to establish himself at the elite level. However, it’s a big ask for him to perform with the consistency and presence of Courtois.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou “still waiting” on defender’s fitness as he provides Monday Celtic squad update.
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