Thibaut Courtois Close to Real Madrid Return
The Real Madrid goalkeeper has had multiple knee injuries and is now closer than ever to returning to play. Ancelotti has already set a date.
Thibaut Courtois returns to training with Real Madrid, and according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, he will be part of the team heading to Munich on Monday for the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Bayern in Germany. Courtois could also return on Saturday, May 4, at the Santiago Bernabéu in a league match against Cádiz.
"Courtois is doing well. I think he will be available next week to travel with us and could play the match against Cádiz," Ancelotti revealed in his last press conference.
This is the light at the end of the tunnel for Courtois in a season where he has yet to play a single minute. The Belgian goalkeeper suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on August 10 during preseason and, after completing the long recovery process, was ready for his first selection when he suffered a tear in his right knee's medial meniscus on March 19.
After completing a new recovery process, Courtois has been responding well to the workload in training sessions at Real Madrid's training complex. His feelings have been positive, working at the same pace as his teammates, and Ancelotti expressed optimism.
While Andriy Lunin will be the starting goalkeeper in the first leg of the semifinals against Bayern, and Kepa Arrizabalaga may start against Real Sociedad, with LaLiga practically secured and an 11-point lead over Barcelona with 18 points remaining, Ancelotti is aware of Courtois's importance and wants him to be part of the team going to Germany.
Subsequently, in the match against Cádiz on May 4, Ancelotti has marked it as the date for Courtois's return to the pitch, provided he does not suffer any further setbacks.
