Sad at leaving Real, Casillas vows to be winner at Porto
“C’EST FINI”.
With those few words in French a tearful Iker Casillas brought to an end his farewell statement yesterday to the Real Madrid fans he has served as first-team goalkeeper and captain for 16 seasons.
Dressed in a dark-blue shirt and sitting alone in front of the assembled media at the Bernabeu stadium press room, the 34-yearold, pictured, who is leaving for Portuguese side Porto, choked up several times as he thanked Real for “giving me everything”.
“This club also moulded me as a person and helped me to grow,” said Casillas, who joined the Real academy at the age of nine and debuted for the first team at 18.
“Beyond remembering me as a good goalkeeper or a bad goal- keeper I just hope that people remember me for being a good person,” he added.
Casillas was speaking after Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo published an interview with his parents yesterday in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by president Florentino Perez.
Casillas had been the victim of an orchestrated campaign of “vilification” in recent years which eventually prompted his decision to quit, they added.
Real did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Casillas did not take questions after making his statement, in which he did not mention Perez by name.
The impression remains that the Spain captain is leaving under a cloud after he was whistled by some fans at the Bernabeu last season, when the club failed to win major silverware.
It was telling that no Real officials appeared with him yesterday, in huge contrast to his close friend and former Spain teammate Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi, 35, left Barcelona for Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of last season and was given a series of rousing send-offs by fans, offi- cials and teammates at the Nou Camp.
Casillas said he was excited about joining Porto, who are coached by Spanish ex-keeper Julen Lopetegui, and that he would fight hard to win as many trophies as possible.
His decision to leave Real is widely believed to have been prompted by the expected arrival of Manchester United’s David De Gea, the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid man who is also being groomed to take over as Spain keeper.
Regular playing time in Portugal for Porto should allow Casillas to extend his international career at least until next year’s European Championship in France. – Reuters CHELSEAboss Jose Mourinho is keen on tempting Barcelona forward Pedro away from the Nou Camp this summer, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.
The 27-year-old, who signed a new five-year deal in June, is reportedly available for £22million as Barcelona agreed to reduce his release clause from a staggering £108m when he put pen to paper.
Pedro could end his 11-year association with Barcelona after struggling to hold down a regular starting spot at the club due to the form of Lionel Messi,
Sport insists the Spain international is confident he will be guaranteed more minutes at Chelsea.
Madrid-based newspaper Marca pay tribute to Real legend Iker Casillas following his move to Porto while AS also reflect on the goalkeepers move away from the Santiago Bernabeu following his 16-year spell in Real Madrid's first team.
They also link former Manchester City centre back Stefan Savic with moves to Premier League trio Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool from Serie A side Fiorentina
Mundo Deportivo claim Luis Enrique is in no rush to sign Paul Pogba, while Tuttosport suggest the Frenchman is a ticking ' time bomb' as Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are all desperate to sign the 22-year-old.
La Gazzetta Sportiva claim Stephan El Shaarawy's proposed move to Monaco could start a domino effect in the transfer window as AC Milan will use the money to sign Roma defender Alessio Romagnoli, which will then allow the Stadio Olimpico outfit to finalise a deal for Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko. – Daily Mail