The Belgium goalkeeper is spending the international break at Real Madrid after agreeing to step away from international duty following the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with Onda Cero, Courtois discussed several of the issues surrounding the club, including refereeing, the Negreira case, the Ballon d'Or and Manchester City's punishment.
Asked about the perception that Real Madrid have been treated differently by officials, Courtois stopped short of suggesting there was a conspiracy.
“I don't think there is a hidden hand or anything like that, I'm not that suspicious,” he said.
However, he argued that some decisions seen in other matches have not been replicated when Real Madrid are involved.
“There are things that you see in other grounds that are given, but they aren't given for us,” Courtois said. “On the contrary, things are given against us and not in our favour.”
The goalkeeper pointed to incidents from the season affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as an example of what he considers inconsistent decision-making. He also referred to different VAR interventions involving Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid.
“There are things where you say, I don't understand,” Courtois said. “They come to explain things to us and then a week later they do the opposite.”
Courtois was also asked about the Negreira case, which remains a major subject around Spanish football.
“Everyone is waiting for the verdict of the Negreira case,” he said. “It is something serious.”
The goalkeeper was less restrained when discussing the Ballon d'Or. He backed Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé for the award and argued that individual quality should carry more weight than the number of trophies won by a player's team.
“It has to be Mbappé,” Courtois said. “Everyone is amazed by his speed and his goals.”
He added that the award should recognise the best individual player rather than simply the player who has won the most.
“With that criterion, Carvajal should have won it two years ago,” he said.
Courtois also had praise for one of Real Madrid's biggest rivals. Barcelona forward Raphinha has caught his attention ahead of their next meeting.
“I like Raphinha a lot,” he said. “He is very important for his team, scores a lot of goals and perhaps doesn't get the recognition he deserves.”
Courtois expects Real Madrid to have to deal with the Brazilian again soon, adding: “We will have to stop him in a month.”
The goalkeeper was also asked about the sanctions surrounding Manchester City. Courtois argued that any punishment affecting the club's ability to recruit players could have had consequences for the competitive balance.
“In the end, what happened with City is altering the competition,” he said. “Perhaps they wouldn't have been able to sign some of the players they had.”
Away from the biggest issues surrounding Real Madrid, Courtois spoke about his son, who plays as a forward in the club's youth academy.
The goalkeeper said his son is more of a Mbappé type of player, although he also enjoys playing in goal. Courtois admitted he would prefer his son not to become a goalkeeper to avoid comparisons with his father.
His broader message was about allowing young players to enjoy football without excessive pressure from parents.
“There are parents who think their son is the new Cristiano and put a lot of pressure on them,” Courtois said. “Sometimes so much that the boys stop playing football at 16. The kids have to enjoy themselves on the pitch.”