Iker Casillas to have Real Madrid farewell after criticism
Monday 13 July 2015 11:44, UK
Real Madrid have decided to give Iker Casillas an official send-off later on Monday following criticism over the low-key nature of his tearful farewell news conference on Sunday.
Captain and keeper Casilllas is leaving the Spanish giants after joining the club as a nine-year-old a quarter-of-a-century ago.
The World Cup winner was left to face the press alone on Sunday as he fought back the tears when he read out a statement thanking the club for "giving me everything".
The contrast with his close friend and former Spain team mate Xavi Hernandez was telling and prompted widespread criticism in the Spanish media that Real had not treated their club legend with sufficient respect.
Xavi, 35, left Barcelona for Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of last season and was given a series of rousing send-offs by fans, officials and team mates at the Nou Camp surrounded by family and friends and a glittering array of trophies.
Real president Florentino Perez and Casillas will now appear on the VIP tribune at the Bernabeu on Monday.
Casillas spoke on Sunday after Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo published an interview with his parents in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by Perez.
They claimed Casillas had been the victim of an orchestrated campaign of "vilification" in recent years which eventually prompted his decision to quit.
Real did not 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.
