Real Madrid veteran fires back at Javier Tebas – ‘Never seen a president like this’

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois strongly criticized La Liga president Javier Tebas following Real Madrid's 0-4 defeat to PSG. Courtois described Tebas's recent public comments as attention-seeking behaviour, stating he had never witnessed similar conduct from league presidents in England or Italy.

Courtois's remarks were a direct response to Tebas publicly attacking the Club World Cup. Tebas had shared a social media post highlighting a drastic drop in ticket prices for the Fluminense vs. Chelsea semi-final (from $473 to $13 in three days) as evidence of the tournament's failure. Tebas called the Club World Cup an "absolute disaster," blaming it for disrupting the La Liga calendar, causing scheduling chaos, and damaging the wider football ecosystem.

Courtois defended the Club World Cup, emphasizing that it is a global event deserving respect regardless of personal opinions. He also addressed player welfare, stating that players need rest after demanding tournaments like the World Cup, and criticized Tebas's apparent expectation that players should be available without a vacation.