Thibaut Courtois spoke to Rio Ferdinand’s podcast about a sensitive subject: racism in football. In an already explosive extract, the Belgian also talks about the exceptional talent of his team-mate Vinicius Jr, even comparing him to the sport’s greatest legends.
In his interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, Thibaut Courtois strongly condemned the racism that still plagues stadiums, particularly in Spain. ‘I love the atmosphere in a stadium and I love great rivalries, but if you hear what we have to hear on certain pitches… it’s unbelievable. It’s unbelievable,’ said the Madrid keeper indignantly.
The Belgian believes that the authorities need to be firmer in the face of these excesses. ‘Sometimes it goes too far. I’m not saying it has to be like in the NBA, where a player can say ‘you have to leave because you said that to me’, but with racism, you have to have zero tolerance.’ He particularly regrets a lack of reaction to certain recent situations. ‘I think sometimes we could have reacted more firmly on the pitch when things happened, like in Valencia. Like leaving the pitch.’
🗣️ Thibaut Courtois: “My dream five-a-side? Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, and Vinícius Jr.” pic.twitter.com/gjg5j2sScW
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 18, 2025
Vinicius Junior, a constant target is like Ronaldo and Messi
Brazil international Vinicius Jr is regularly the target of such attacks. According to Courtois, the Madrid winger has to deal with constant hostility, particularly at away games. ‘With everything that’s happened, it’s not easy for him to go to every stadium. If you go to one of our away games, from the first minute they whistle at him, they shout at him, they try to take him out of the game, they try to drive him crazy.’
For all that, Vinicius is not giving up and is learning to deal with the pressure. ‘But I think he’s learned to deal with it. He’s like Cristiano and Messi, because an intelligent defender will always try to annoy them. Courtois draws a parallel here with Diego Costa, known for his fiery temperament: ‘Diego Costa was the opposite, when he was playing, he was always messing with you.’
🗣️ Thibaut Courtois: “We miss Vinícius a lot when he’s not available. He’s great in one vs one situations, very strong, and his speed is unbelievable. He shoots great with either foot. He’s a great player.” pic.twitter.com/lNgVYlbTQ0
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 18, 2025
Despite the obstacles, Vinicius remains a key figure at Real Madrid. Courtois makes no secret of his admiration for his team-mate. ‘When he’s not here, we miss him a lot. He’s very strong, his pace is incredible, he has a very good shot, with his left and his right, and in general he’s a fantastic player.’
His explosiveness, technique and ability to make a difference make him one of the most feared players in Europe. Real Madrid are banking heavily on him, and his absence is often felt on the pitch. Courtois insists: ‘He’s a unique player, with the ability to single-handedly change the course of a match. He brings a lot to the table, both in terms of creation and finishing.‘
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