MADRID: Iker Casillas had no words of regret or rancour as he put an emotional end to his 25 years as a Real Madrid goalkeeper on Sunday, 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 Real announced Casillas was moving to the northern Portuguese club.

“After 25 years defending the colours 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 what could be 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!’.”

Around a hundred fans, some in Casillas shirts, braved the blistering summer sun and 37 degree Celsius (98.6 degree Fahrenheit) heat outside the stadium in hopes of a glimpse of the departing player.

Casillas, 34, joined the Real academy at the age of nine and debuted for the first team in 1999. He won 19 trophies for Real, including three Champions League titles and five Spanish league crowns, while also captaining Spain to the 2010 World Cup and two European championships.

Dressed in a dark blue shirt and sitting alone in front of the assembled media at the Bernabeu stadium press room, he choked up several times as he thanked Real for “giving me everything”.

“This club also moulded me as a person and helped me to grow,” said Casillas. “Beyond remembering me as a good goalkeeper or a bad goalkeeper I just hope that people remember me for being a good person.”

Casillas was speaking after Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo published an interview with his parents on Sunday in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by president Florentino Perez.

Casillas had been the victim of an orchestrated campaign of “vilification” in recent years which eventually prompted his decision to quit, they added.

Real did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Casillas did not take questions after making his statement, in which he did not mention Perez by name.

Giving his reasons for the rupture an emotional Casillas said: “The decision to leave for Porto is due to two fundamental reasons.

“The first is the hunger displayed by the president [Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa], the sporting director Antero [Henrique] and the manager Julen Lopetegui, and above all the rest of the team.

“The second is the many signs of affection I’ve received as people have learnt that my future is in Portugal. They’ve won me over, and I’m very happy, very content. I will fight to the utmost to not let them down and win as many titles as possible.”

Real announced the departure of their favourite son in a brief statement on Saturday night, without specifying the amount of the deal. “Real Madrid and FC Porto have agreed the transfer of Iker Casillas to the Portuguese club.”

According to Spanish media he has moved on a two year deal worth in total to the player 10 million euros ($11.2 million).

Once considered a living Real Madrid legend, who earned the nickname of “Saint Iker” for what his supporters considered his miraculous saves, Casillas struggled to regain his starting job and goalkeeping reflexes after being benched by former coach Jose Mourinho midway through the 2012-13 season.

His decision to leave Real is widely believed to have been prompted by the expected arrival of Manchester United’s David De Gea, the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid man who is also being groomed to take over as Spain keeper.

Regular playing time in Portugal for Porto should allow Casillas to extend his international career at least until next year’s European Championship in France.

Published in Dawn ,July 13th, 2015

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