Belgium and Real Madrid superstar Thibaut Courtois is widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the modern era, having lifted multiple major trophies at club level. Now, the 33-year-old has become the latest athlete to invest in a soccer club.
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois Becomes Investor in Ligue 2 Side
According to The Mirror, the Real Madrid player has become a part-owner of French second-tier team Le Mans, who have recently been dubbed the ‘French Wrexham’. He has invested in the Ligue 2 club, primarily owned by OutField, through his company NxtPlay.
Courtois has joined 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and former Formula One (F1) drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen in becoming co-owners of Le Mans.
“A two-time UEFA Champions League winner and iconic goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois brings top-level expertise, both on and off the pitch,” Le Mans asserted in their press release after labelling the aforesaid quartet as ‘world-renowned athletes and European investors’.
Le Mans, first founded in 1902, are currently in fifth spot in the Ligue 2 table with 39 points from 23 league outings, just three points off first place. They were promoted to Ligue 2 after finishing second in the Championnat National, the third tier, last term.
Meanwhile, Courtois is in excellent form for Los Blancos in the ongoing 2025-26 campaign. He has helped his club sit atop the La Liga table with 60 points from 24 games, registering 14 clean sheets in 34 appearances across all competitions in the process.
On the other hand, Real Madrid ace Vinicius Junior was allegedly racially abused by Benfica star Gianluca Prestianni during a UEFA Champions League clash this Tuesday, Feb. 17. And, former Manchester City man Micah Richards has condemned Prestianni.
READ MORE: Benfica Head Coach Accuses Real Madrid of Getting Favorable Calls
“Prestianni is a coward because no one but him and Vini will know what happened, because he covered his mouth with the jersey. Now, we are having these conversations: did it really happen, didn’t it happen? His reaction says it all, Vinicius wouldn’t lie about that,” Richards remarked while speaking on a recent segment of CBS Sports Golazo.
“When you see the moment there, you almost feel sorry for Vinicius. And then the reaction from the crowd, they are giving him some. For him to get that abuse after he was the one who allegedly abused, I don’t think it’s right,” the Englishman concluded.
Los Blancos will next face Osasuna in an away La Liga contest this Saturday, Feb. 21, before taking on Benfica again in the Champions League next Wednesday, Feb. 25.
