I'd like to take this moment to honor a player that has been with us for 25 years. Iker Casillas has, in those 25 years, played for Real Madrid's C team, B team, and the first team. With the first team, he has made 725 appearances, the 2nd highest in our club's history. Casillas has also won 5 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey's, 4 Supercopa de Espana's, 2 UEFA Super Cup's, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and most importantly, 3 Champions League titles. He has been the undisputed 1st choice keeper for the majority of his career at Real, and fully deserved any and all accolades. Iker's determination to be the best and his attitude towards his teammates and other professionals has been impeccable. Thank you legend for being dedicated for our club for so long, and I'm very sorry we couldn't have given you the farewell you truly deserve.

#OneOfTheAllTimeGreats

I wouldn't want to see Iker in a red and blue kit BUT... Like I said before, the team really screwed up Iker and his mother has the right to be upset like that.

Word is that R. Madrid unfollowed Casillas on Twitter. What a bunch of babies! I can just imagine some higher up in the R. Madrid camp thinking "that'll show him". SMH.

@TheGame

Haha, what a bunch of immature twats. Sometimes I can't believe my own club's actions.

@TheGame Of course, everybody knows Real Madrid is on the cut just above Porto, but there was no need for his mother to dispresect them either way. But I can agree, think I spoke a bit out of emotion myself when seeing someone insulting a very respectful Porto side in the country that I follow football closest.

@tiki_taka and Madridista11 Thanks for both comments, that clears it up!

@VAMOSBenfica, yes and it is important to note that, hypothetically, if Tottenham or Roma snatched up Casillas, his mother would have called THEM a third rate team, so it was definitely not personal. And I totally agree with you. Although unspoken in many regards, I think there is a deep sense of respect and veneration from all of Europe for clubs like Porto and Benfica. Both these clubs have been feeding their best and brightest to the top footballing elites who have an unquenchable thirst for glory and rarely, if at all, produce similarly talented players on their own. I know how hard it is for fans to see their best players consistently leave (C. Ronaldo; DDG), although it happens much more frequently for your team. Although Porto and Benfica gain significant economic value for those players, the loss in quality nonetheless causes them to take massive hits on the pitch, which to me outweighs anything monetary in nature.

@D, yes it is very sad. Casillas IS R. Madrid and how he feels about the club will reflect on their fans which won't bode well for Perez in the future. He is the type of person who should become R. Madrid's ambassador, much like Zidane and Raul, not an enemy.

best of luck, lengend.... best of luck!

i will thank you forever god that I don't support this Business/company called Real Madrid!!!

Not even close to other football clubs and totally works like a business.

Gracias Iker and Good good luck to your new team

@DonAdres: well, every football club is a business nowaday. They just have different business model.

@Tuan_Jinn Right on. Every team has its issues and it so happens that Madrid is known for it's business :(

@TheGame I agree with everything you say, great comment. Now I can add, as expected, that Casillas's mother has gone out and said:

"I want to apologize to FC Porto for saying they are like a 'B' team. I'm grateful for them signing my son."

Iker Casillas wears a new kit for the first time in 25 Years.

Iker Casillas with José Mourinho statue in FC Porto Museum.

It's kinda weird to see him in another jersey...

Very weird for me to see him in a Porto jersey after seeing him 10+ seasons wearing a Madrid jersey. :(

Xavi: "It leaves a bad taste what is happening with him now. In recent years, I have seen that he is not enjoying himself like before. He even seems bitter and I think everyone in this country (Spain) should think about this. It cannot be that maturing Spanish athletes are not shown sufficient respect, that people neglect to value everything they have done for their sport and instead focus on their defects, sometimes with malicious intent."

"It cannot be that maturing Spanish athletes are not shown sufficient respect"
Talking about his own experience with Barcelona?

I don't think so, Xavi couldn't have had better farewell.

The whole situation is kinda emberrassing for Real and their fans in general. It's sad.

It's undertandable to a certain extends regarding his performance and the competitiveness of the position. But, booing, blaming... etc... it's just not how you should treat your legend, period. Im sure that's not the majority of Real's fans. But, the fuzz which were created around him and whatever happened during the changing room WERE NOT handled well.

Especially, Mou SHOULD HAVE done it much better.

@Juan

No, Xavi had a wonderful send-off at Barca. I can't imagine him having a better send-off. I think he was referring to Valdes, Raul, and Casillas.