Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has paid tribute to ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas after he completed a switch to Porto – ending his 25-year career with Los Blancos.
The 34-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Estadio de Dragao side and said an emotional farewell on Sunday in a press conference.
Xavi ended his career with Barcelona this summer too, signing for Qatari side Al Sadd. The contrasts between the two players’ departures was stark, with Xavi getting an incredible send off from the Nou Camp fans after the club won the Champions League. Casillas, meanwhile, slipped away quietly, with no member of the board present at his press conference on Sunday and the player no able to wave goodbye infront of the Madridistas at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking to Marca, Xavi paid a glowing tribute to his international team mate. The pair played a key role in helping Spain to lift the World Cup and two European Championships. They also fought many battles on opposing sides in El Clasico, but Xavi said the pair are great friends.
“I have to publicly recognise that I appreciate Iker a lot, and I sincerely think that we have a strong friendship. There’s a lot of years together, we had passed by a lot of moments, good and bad ones, and these are the ones which stick people together. And he’s a very lovable guy. He has been always a joker, joyful, sincerely and really competitive guy,” he stated.
Thank you Mr Collins for this write-up. Xavi has millions of admirers and Iker too has a devoted football fan following and you choosing to accentuate their friendship at this juncture when Casillas has been treated shabbily by his old club is very important. Xavi is known for speaking up [to the annoyance of some people]and it is admirable that he has done this now. I have enjoyed your article and will look out for the next ones.
Thanks for your comment Asha, and great to hear you liked the article. Iker is a legend and deserves all the praise in the world! What a great servant to Real Madrid.