Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has denied any malicious
intent in earlier comments on Iker Casillas and has expressed Real Madrid’s pride
in the goalkeeper.
The President was
quoted to have told club members ahead of this weekend’s general assembly that
the 32-year-old wasn’t helped by his girlfriend’s public comments on the state
of the Madrid dressing room during the final months of Jose Mourinho’s tenure
as Coach.
“Casillas has my
appreciation and my support,” Perez reflected on La Sexta this Friday.
“What I said at the
time is that sometimes those around us do not help. But that is to everyone. I
said it in favour of Casillas, not against.
“We all feel very proud
of Casillas, he is the best goalkeeper in the history of Spain. Everyone in
life goes through situations that are better or worse, but you have to keep
working.”
The president also commented
on the pride felt in signing Ronaldo to a new deal.
“It is a luxury to
have Cristiano here. He is one of those players who appears from century to
century and we are lucky to have him on our team.
“But it is also
important in our project to have foreign players like Bale, the best Spanish
players like Isco and Illarramendi and also players from our youth
development.”
One foreign player no
longer in the project is Mesut Ozil, after his late summer exit to Arsenal.
“Ozil left because he
wanted to. He expressed his desire to leave, we were told he would have an
offer and it was so.
“We spoke to the
coaching staff and they said it was fine. There are other players who have not
wanted to leave and they are here.
“If a player is under
contract and does not want to leave, he is not leaving. [Angel] di Maria is a
good example and we are delighted that he is here.”
