Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has blasted the ‘disrespectful’ media reports which claimed he suffered from anxiety.
The news was reported in Spanish digital newspaper OK Diario, which is not viewed as reputable, before being repeated by multiple unverified Twitter accounts.
The Belgian international was forced off during half-time of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge earlier this month and missed the subsequent game against Granada.
However, Los Blancos subsequently clarified via a statement that the goalkeeper is instead suffering from “acute gastroenteritis with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance”, with Marca claiming that he has lost 3kg over the past few days due to the illness.
“I know what it means to be an elite player. Right now, I am very happy and I don't have those problems,” Courtois explained on Thursday after Belgium beat San Marino 9-0, as cited by Diario AS.
“Media responsibility is about not making up lies and talking nonsense with those things because in the end those are problems that people really suffer with.
“I think it's disrespectful not only to the player but also the people who really suffer from that, I feel happy and training hard.
“I feel that I have recovered (from stomach problems). It was a very strong flu and it was not pleasant but now I am recovered.
“I was able to train almost all of Monday and Tuesday with the team and yesterday I did everything. I feel strong again after losing a lot of kilos.
“Fans at the Bernabeu are always a critical audience, we know, and we will do everything with the team so that they stop this and break into applause.”
Alphonso Areola, a summer loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain, had temporarily replaced Courtois in the starting line-up.
