Iker Casillas whistled by Real Madrid fans; Revista de la Liga experts discuss

Iker Casillas’ angry reaction to being whistled by his own fans is a turning point in his illustrious career.

That’s the view of Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague after the goalkeeper was caught on camera uttering angry words towards supporters who jeered him during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Valencia.

Casillas has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal after becoming frustrated with taunts from his own supporters and Balague says it was a surprising moment from the 33-year-old.

“This is for me a turning point in the story of Iker Casillas with Real Madrid,” he told Revista de La Liga.

“It’s the first time that Iker Casillas, who should be an idol to this club after 18 years in the first team, has actually turned against his own fans.

“Yes, he thought all this for a long while because he heard it from his spokespeople, but it’s the first time we’ve seen that.”

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Former Valencia midfielder Gaizka Mendieta was also in the Revista bar on Monday night and says he was not surprised to see such a high-profile player receiving criticism from his own supporters.

“It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last,” he said.

“We saw it with Di Stefano, we saw it with Raul, we saw it with myself at Valencia. I spent 11 years at Valencia with players who spent their whole careers there as well.

“It’s part of the culture. I think people get fed up with seeing the same faces. It’s all wrong, obviously and it should be the other way round like happens in England.

“In England when big players dedicate his career to one club we idolise them.”