Real Madrid say Thibaut Courtois anxiety reports are 'absolutely false'

Real Madrid have strongly denied claims in the Spanish media that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with anxiety by the club's medical staff.

The Belgian was substituted at half-time in Madrid's 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Real two goals down at the time.

Coach Zinedine Zidane said after the game that the 27-year-old was suffering from "stomach problems" and explained that was why he was replaced by Alphone Areola.

On Thursday, a report in OK Diario said the former Chelsea goalkeeper had been diagnosed with anxiety by Real Madrid's medical staff.

But Los Blancos released a statement on their website on Friday in which they said the information was "absolutely false".

"Regarding certain information about our player Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid would like to state the following," it started.

"That our player has never been diagnosed with an alleged condition of anxiety and, therefore, that information is absolutely false.

"That Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed and treated with acute gastroenteritis with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which made it impossible for him to end last Tuesday's match against Bruges."

Madrid went on to add the player was "responding in a favourable way" to treatment, but did not reveal whether he would take part in Saturday's La Liga clash with Granada.