Iker Casillas: I’ve no intention of leaving Real Madrid

Madrid: Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he has no intention of abandoning the club.

Casillas has had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench since recovering from a broken bone in his left hand which he suffered in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup at the end of January.

The injury suffered by the Spanish international saw the club purchase Diego Lopez from Sevilla and the former Madrid player, who left the club to seek his chance for first team football, has turned in a string of fine performances which have left Casillas watching his side’s games from the substitutes’ bench.

It should also be said that Casillas’ relationship with coach Jose Mourinho has deteriorated with rumours he and Sergio Ramos told club president Florentino Perez that several players would ask for a transfer if Mourinho was at the club next season while his journalist girlfriend Sara Carbonero commented on Mexican TV that some relationships in the Madrid dressing room were not all they should be.

Mourinho dropped a massive hint after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Borussia Dortmund Tuesday night that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season and perhaps that had some bearing on Casillas, who spoke when receiving a merit award from the Communidad de Madrid this Thursday.

“My future is with Real Madrid because I have a contract, because I have been with the club since I was nine-years-old, because it is the club I have always supported and because it is where I want to be,” said Casillas, who insisted his companions were not going to give up, despite being 11 points behind Barcelona in the league and out of Europe.

“We have to get as many points as possible in the league and try to beat Atletico Madrid in the King’s Cup.”

Casillas insisted the Madrid side had done as much as possible in their game against Dortmund on Tuesday, a game in which they were close to pulling off a miracle fight-back but falling a goal short in a 3-4 aggregate defeat.

“They made an immense effort and I want to congratulate them all,” he said.

Sergio Ramos picked up a slight muscular problem towards the end of the game which is likely to see him miss the clash with Real Valladolid on Saturday, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo is also doubtful as he continues to feel the after-effects of a thigh injury picked up in the first-leg against Dortmund.

And Valladolid boss Miroslav Djukic believes his side can learn from the teamwork shown by Bayern and Dortmund against the two Spanish giants over the past week.

“We were all waiting to see what Ronaldo or Messi were going to do in the Champions League ties, but in their opponents we saw what it is to be a team,” he said.

“In terms of quality, the Spanish sides had it all, but in front of them they had incredible work rate. We saw [Arjen] Robben and [Franck] Ribery defending, running, working. This is what we have to learn from them.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona star Lionel Messi trained on Thursday morning as he continues his recuperation from the hamstring injury which forced him to sit out Wednesday’s second-leg, but is not expected to be risked for the visit of Real Betis on Sunday.

Sergio Busquets and Eric Abidal are also doubtful after missing the Bayern game through injury, but Jordi Alba does return from suspension.

Betis have their own injury problems as they look to secure a place in the Europa League next season as Nacho and Jose Canas are both suspended, with centre-backs Paulao and Damien Perquis doubtful.