Manchester United No 1 Senne Lammens has revealed why Real Madrid and Belgium shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois is such an important player to him early in his playing career.
Senne Lammens has been finding his feet in England and adapting to the demands of the Premier League after leaving his native homeland in the 2025 summer window.
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The 23-year-old Manchester United summer signing made his name at Royal Antwerp and caught the eye of the Red Devils amid their hunt for a new ‘keeper.
Lammens left Royal Antwerp on deadline day last September and Man Utd paid an initial fee of £18.1m for the player, including agreeing to further add-ons as well.
The former Antwerp ace has impressed between the sticks for the Red Devils and firmly became United’s No 1 after Andre Onana lost his place in the squad.
Man Utd shot-stopper Senne Lammens on the importance of Belgium teammate Thibaut Courtois
Senne Lammens has been challenging for a place in the Belgium national team and made his senior debut in the 2025 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.
Thibaut Courtois has long been held as one of the best ‘keepers in the world and the 33-year-old Belgian shot-stopper impressed in both England and Spain.
Lammens’ Belgium teammate has enjoyed successful spells with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid since Courtois started his senior career with Genk.
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Speaking to Manchester United’s official website, Lammens said that Courtois is a “big example” of the quality of shot-stoppers that Belgium are now producing.
“I think we have always had a couple of the best keepers in the world in Belgium – Thibaut Courtois, whom I train with in the Belgium team, is a big example as well, as to how big Belgian goalkeeping is in the world,” he explained.
“So, I hope I can get my career going and to also maybe get to the point of that.”
Man Utd No 1 Senne Lammens talks up the significance of Belgium’s role in the state of modern football
Lammens, who also played for Club Brugge in his native homeland, insisted that Belgium’s influence over ‘keepers is comparable with what the Netherlands are doing.
“If you also see the national teams, I think, in general, the goalkeeper quality in those countries is quite high,” he said.
“So, I think it’s no surprise for me that a lot of goalkeepers from Belgium and the Netherlands play in the Premier League now.”
Lammens added: “It’s nice to see as well that, from a young age, they try to work with the goalkeepers and that it pans out well with the people coming through.”
Lammens has made 21 appearances for Man Utd across all competitions in his debut season and the Belgium international has four clean sheets in the Premier League.
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