The parents of former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas have taken a dig at the club's president, Florentino Perez, stating that the goalie was never liked by Perez, whereas other presidents in the past including Lorenzo Sanz and Ramon Calderon treated the World Cup winner well.
The Spaniard was subjected to move away from Real Madrid in the last few years and the Spanish club have agreed a deal with Portuguese club Porto to sell the player. His parents felt that Casillas deserved a top team like Barcelona.
Casillas' parents Jose Luis and Mari Carmen also alleged that the shot-stopper was treated differently from some other players in the team. He enjoyed a wonderful spell with Real Madrid, where he won three champions league titles along with five La Liga titles.
During his tenure at the club, he was always a first-choice goalie, but things changed in the last few years, especially when Jose Mourinho was the manager, where he was on the bench a number of times.
"With previous presidents Lorenzo Sanz and Ramon Calderon, he was treated well," El Mundo quoted Cassilas' parents as saying.
They even stated that Perez did not like Casillas because of his height. The goalkeeper stands 1.85m tall.
"But Florentino Perez did not like him. This president has never loved him because he is short. Iker has endured things that have never been written about. He has endured psychological pressure and he has been treated differently from other players. He has been vilified in the past five years and it has all been very unfair."
But to be fair to Casillas, the Spaniard goalie has it in him to play for top teams across the world and his mother, Maria del Carmen Fernandez, stated that Perez did not want Casillas to succeed, so he did not allow him to leave for other big club.
A number of English Premier League clubs were heavily linked with the former Real Madrid goalie, including Arsenal, who only signed Petr Cech recently.
"Florentino Perez is largely at fault for Iker leaving Real Madrid. Of course my son has had more offers, but Florentino did not want him to go to a top team. He does not want Casillas to succeed," Maria del Carmen said.
"Porto is a team of the level of a Segunda B Division team and my son deserves a more upscale team, like Barcelona.
"A world champion cannot finish his career in Porto! I would not have minded if he went to Barcelona because they are gentlemen."
However, Iker Casillas will ply his trade in Portugal with his new team, Porto, which might result in Manchester United goalie, David de Gea signing for Real Madrid.
