Iker Casillas has urged Real Madrid to drop their pursuit of Jose Mourinho, insisting there are other managerial candidates ‘better equipped’ for the job.
Mourinho has emerged as the clear frontrunner to take charge of Madrid in the last few hours, with Alvaro Arbeloa expected to make way just four months after he replaced Xabi Alonso in the hot seat.
According to the BBC, Mourinho, currently the head coach of Benfica, has entered into ‘final negotiations’ over a proposed return to the Bernabeu, 13 years after his first stint in the Spanish capital came to an end.
The report claims Los Blancos – who are set to finish trophyless for a second successive season – have spoken to no other candidates at this stage in the process.
Facing the media earlier today, Mourinho refused to fuel speculation over his future, instead telling reporters in Portugal: ‘We [Benfica] have a match against Estoril.
‘From next Monday onwards I’ll be able to answer questions about my future as a coach and Benfica’s future.’
Mourinho, who has also managed Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, still has a year remaining on his current contract in Lisbon.
Casillas and Mourinho shared a tumultuous relationship during their time together at Madrid, with the legendary goalkeeper finding himself dropped from the starting XI towards the end of the 2012/13 season.
In a 2017 interview, Casillas likened their broken relationship to the disintegration of a romantic love affair – and it’s clear the Spaniard remains somewhat skeptical towards ‘The Special One’.
‘I have no problem with Mourinho. He seems like a great professional to me. I don’t want him at Real Madrid,’ Casillas told his nine million followers on X this evening.
‘I think other coaches would be better equipped to coach at the club of my life. Personal opinion. Nothing more.’
Jose Mourinho during first spell at Madrid (2010-13)
La Liga: 2011/12 🏆
Copa del Rey: 2010/11 🏆
Spanish Super Cup: 2012 🏆
Last week, Casillas, the second-highest appearance maker in Madrid’s history, encouraged club president Florentino Perez to consider giving Alonso a second chance in the Bernabeu dugout.
‘I would take Alonso again,’ the five-time La Liga winner said during a Movistar+ event.
‘He’s a manager who succeeded with Bayer Leverkusen, he’s young and he is ready for Real Madrid. He would be the perfect manager with continuity and confidence.
‘But in football you never know. Zinedine Zidane came in for Rafael Benítez and things went right.’
Reports of infighting and unrest inside the Madrid dressing room have dominated the backpages in Spain in recent days, with the campaign unravelling into an almighty mess both on and off the pitch.
News of an emergency press conference at Madrid set tongues wagging across social media this evening, with some speculating that details could be provided in relation to the club’s search for a manager.
But instead, Perez took the opportunity to put to bed rumours over his own future as president and confirmed that he intended to remain in charge of the club.
‘An absurd situation has been created against Real Madrid and against me, Perez – who has been in the role since June 2009 – told reporters.
‘Some people say I am sick, that I have terminal cancer. My health is perfect. I am not going to resign.’
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