Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he did not apologise to Barcelona following some tense meetings between the teams back in 2011.
Reports in Spain suggested Casillas had telephoned both Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol, his teammates in the Spanish national team, to ‘say sorry’ over what some perceived as Los Blancos’ rough tactics, although it is an accusation he refutes.
“I didn’t phone to apologise, as was said, but because the image we were portraying in these matches was bad and far from being a good example for kids.
“They were tense times and I rang them to get things out in the open,” he told journalist Inaki Gabilondo in an exclusive interview.
Casillas went on to say that he made the peace offering in order to improve relations between Madrid and Barca players before linking up again with Xavi and Puyol for Spanish team.
Neither, he declared, was he happy with a statement released by his partner Sara Carbonero, a television presenter, in which she indicated that relations in the Madrid dressing room were bad.
Another accusation Casillas had to deflect was that he was not looking after his physical fitness.
“Those that have natural talent don’t lose it. I don’t have to go to the gymnasium to do 3,000 sit-ups. It doesn’t suit me,” he countered.
Finally, he talked about his family and how he cannot even take a walk with his son without being harassed by the tabloid Press, given the popularity of himself and Carbonero.
“You have to come to some kind of compromise in life,” he said, in reference to agreements made with several reporters to give him some breathing space.
