According to foreign media reports, Saudi club Al Qadisiyah showed strong interest in Courtois and offered an annual salary of approximately 30 million euros. Despite the attractive offer, the transfer ultimately did not materialize.
The controversy centered on Courtois's wife, Mishel Gerzig (29). The internationally successful model is Israeli, and given the tensions between Israel and Saudi Arabia—the two countries have no diplomatic relations—the potential transfer attracted significant attention.
Several media outlets speculated that Gerzig opposed the move to Saudi Arabia, with some reports claiming she had threatened divorce if her husband accepted the offer.
However, Gerzig publicly denied these rumors. She clarified on social media: "Everyone calm down, don't believe everything you see online. Nobody is getting divorced."
It is reported that Courtois himself decided against signing with Al Qadisiyah—partly out of consideration for his wife. He also believes Saudi Arabia is not an ideal place to raise his daughter, Ellie, and his family is settled in Madrid. Gerzig recently emphasized in an interview how warmly she was welcomed in Spain and how much she enjoys living there.
Without the Saudi contract, the family faces no financial concerns. The Belgian goalkeeper's personal assets are estimated at around 150 million euros, and his Real Madrid contract runs through 2027.
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