Thibaut Courtois mulls Belgium retirement after World Cup, eyes Real Madrid future with Mourinho

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois indicated on Thursday that he is likely to end his international career with Belgium after this summer's World Cup, allowing him to focus fully on his club duties at Real Madrid. He said the physical demands of international play have become increasingly taxing and that he wants to concentrate on maintaining his performance levels for the Spanish giants.

Courtois also addressed his relationship with Real Madrid's newly appointed coach José Mourinho, recalling a past clash during their time together at Chelsea. "We have had a clash before," Courtois told Marca, adding that Mourinho once benched him at Everton to provoke a reaction. He described their current rapport as "good" and said Mourinho's direct style fits his own. Courtois expressed a desire to finish his career at Real Madrid, noting that a contract extension would be possible if he continues to perform at his current level.