Sports
        

Soccer

Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors

Updated: 2011-07-07 10:51

(Agencies)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors
Spain soccer national team and Real Madrid's goalkeeper Iker Casillas kicks a ball during a coaching clinic for children at the University stadium in Mexico City June 9, 2011. [Photo/Agencies] 

BEIJING - Iker Casillas has rejected rumors he will be stripped of the Real Madrid captaincy, saying he'd discussed the issue with manager Jose Mourinho but they agreed he would retain the captain's armband.

"I had talks with the boss on this question and we discussed if I need to give out the captain position to someone else," Casillas told a hastily arranged news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. "But our boss said this is totally unnecessary."

Related readings:
Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors Ronaldo, Casillas couples spotted at Madrid open final
Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors Casillas named Ambassador for UN anti-poverty goals
Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors Spain captain Casillas celebrates with a TV kiss
Casillas refutes Madrid captaincy rumors Forget league shock and focus on Spurs: Casillas

Casillas has been Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper for more than a decade and said the club has a tradition of giving the captaincy to long-serving players.

"There are chances that in the future if something bad happens or due to other reasons, I might leave the captain position," he said in comments translated from Spanish. "But so far I would say there is no sign or chance of that situation."

Casillas was enthusiastic about this week's signing of Portugese left back Fabio Coentrao from Benfica. He joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe in a contingent of Portugal internationals at Madrid that has grown under their compatriot Mourinho.

"Our Portuguese-speaking players are all very nice and friendly," Casillas said. "We have never had any problems in the changing room between the players with various mother tongues. By the way, our Portugese players are all now learning to speak Spanish."

Casillas gave further support to Ronaldo, saying he was a better player than Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who is often referred to as the world's best.

"They currently both are the best football players in the world," Casillas said. "And they both are very ambitious and trying all their effort to play football for themselves and for their respected teams. But anyway, among the two best players, I would choose Cristiano Ronaldo."

E-paper

Shining through

Chinese fireworks overcome cloudy times, pin hopes on burgeoning domestic demand

Pen mightier than the sword
Stroke of luck
Romance by the sea

European Edition

Specials

90th anniversary of the CPC

The Party has been leading the country and people to prosperity.

My China story

Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.

Green makeover

Cleanup of Xi'an wasteland pays off for ancient city

Vice-President visits Italy
Sky is the limit
Quest for green growth