Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has once again spoken about the departure of former captain Iker Casillas saying the goalkeeper wanted to leave Los Blancos for a new challenge.
The 10-time Champions League winners came in for plenty of criticism over the summer for their handling of the transfer and Casillas’ exit.
It was felt that he was forced out of the club as they made plans to sign David de Gea from Manchester United – a move that failed to happen anyway. Casillas held a press conference in which no member of the board were present – something that the club got slammed for.
The next say, Perez appeared on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu with the World Cup winner in a hastily arranged and rather tense photo opportunity event.
But speaking to club members at the annual general meeting, Perez said Casillas wanted the move to Porto.
He said: “Iker Casillas, and Iker Casillas alone, made the decision to leave Real Madrid. Having received an offer from Porto, he urged us to help him to accept it. And in the face of his firm decision, that’s what we did, because among other things he deserves it.
“He’s the greatest goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and the greatest goalkeeper in the history of Spanish football. He has helped to make this club even more legendary and, as I said on the day of his farewell, his example lives on at this club, because his manner of conducting himself points the way forward for all those who dream of being a part of this team.”
