Iker Casillas had no words of regret or rancor, as he put an emotional end to his 25 years as a Real Madrid goalkeeper, promising instead to “not let down” his new fans at FC Porto.
A tearful Casillas, struggled to read a statement during a press conference, a day after Madrid announced Casillas was moving to the northern Portuguese club.
“After 25 years defending the colors of the best team in the world, the difficult day has arrived, when I say goodbye to the institution that has given me so much,” Casillas said in his final appearance, at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Thanks, a thousand thanks, I will never forget you. Wherever I go I will continue shouting ‘Hala Madrid!’,” he said.
Around a hundred fans, some in Casillas shirts, braved the blistering summer sun and 37 degree Celsius heat outside the stadium, in hopes of a glimpse of the departing player.
Casillas, 34, joined Madrid’s youth academy at age 9, before debuting for its first team in 1999. He won 19 trophies for Madrid, including three Champions League titles and five Spanish league crowns, while also captaining Spain to the 2010 World Cup and two European championships.
Avoiding any mention of Madrid president, Florentino Perez, or the drawn-out negotiations over the past week to complete his transfer, Casillas said his reasons for leaving were based on the interest shown by Porto.
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