Iker Casillas departed his boyhood club Real Madrid after spending 25 years with it and his departure has led to heavy criticism on the club for the way they let a legend leave the club.
The goalkeeper who won five league titles and three Champions League trophies with the club, among other honors, sat alone in Madrid’s media room as he announced his departure from the club in an emotional press conference. On the other hand, his Spanish teammate Xavi, who left Barcelona at the end of last season with a treble nonetheless, got a rapturous send off at Camp Nou.
Alba: At Barcelona, things would have been different
Spain and Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba also joined in in criticizing Real Madrid. He said that at Barcelona, they would have done things differently and perhaps the reason Real Madrid were so cold in their behaviour was because they didn’t win anything last season.
a Everyone respects him,a he said. a I dona t want to get involved with things about a team that isna t mine, but Iker has done enough to deserve the respect of absolutely everyone. Maybe Madrid did it differently because they hadna t won any trophies. The season before last we didna t win anything, but this year Xavi left the club in a different way. At Barcelona things woulda ve been done differently. Iker is respected by every player and every club. Youa d have to ask them why they did it like that, but that’s not my business,a he said.
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Xavi: Casillas deserved much more
Xavi had praised his compatriot and friend in an article in La Vanguardia earlier this week. He was also extremely disappointed in the way Casillas left the club.
“It leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” Xavi told RAC1. “I wrote a letter stating my opinion. He didna t deserve such a tepid send-off; he deserved more.
“They held a tribute for him but he looked sad. It makes me feel sad and angry that his farewell was like that. Maybe last year the same woulda ve happened to me.
“I left in the best way possible but Madrid didna t lift any trophies. Nevertheless, he deserved more.”
The club even unfollowed Casillas on Twitter immediately after the announcement. It was heavily criticised for the way it treated the Spanish international who has lifted the World Cup and two Euro Championships with Spain. That lead to Los Blancos putting together a last-minute tribute for the club icon.