Casillas: “Porto offered me something that Madrid did not”

Iker Casillas and Carles Puyol were protagonists of an act of the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The two world champions in 2010 with Spain were the two representatives of the meeting with Spanish football legends, together with LaLiga president Javier Tebas. Both, former captains of Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​respectively, they analyzed the most current issues of international football and their respective football careers.

Casillas: “Porto offered me something that Madrid did not”

Change in League: “The architect of the change has been Javier Tebas. The change has not been radical but gradual. LaLiga has an exceptional level throughout the world.”

Meaning of Messi's departure after Cristiano's: “Of course it is a beautiful story to start and end with the same shirt. We don't know when you change teams. I changed teams due to circumstances. Porto offered me something that Madrid did not and I changed the championship and the country.”

Play in another country: “When you play for one of the best clubs in the world it is difficult to be able to aspire to another club. When you play for a club your whole life fulfills your dream. The last five years at 35 I had the will to change.”

Classic preferred: “The first one I played and we won 3-0. El Clásico saw it as something from another planet.”

Cup Final: “It was exciting and a beautiful game.”

Golden age of the National Team: “What we experienced was a unique moment. We played with a security with Puyol ahead. The defense was impenetrable. When I started with Xavi in ​​2001 when we lived the World Cup there were five captains in that team. In the end we were five players of much weight later having played as many years as Xavi, Xabi Alonso or Puyol “.

Golden Ball: “I am very happy because in the end they achieve what we have all wanted and that our position is valued. The goalkeepers continue in their mission and are a reference and they are going to know them. The rivalry we have experienced has been positive and healthy.”

Classic without audience: “Seeing him at home is not as exciting as on the field. It is an extraordinary situation and that soon he can come back, hug each other, call out a goal and now you have to take care of your health and go back in.”

Puyol: “As culé did not want Messi to leave”

How much the League has changed: “It has changed from the platform. An excellent job has been done to make LaLiga a world front page. Being a LaLiga ambassador and traveling outside of Spain is a source of pride. Spain has one of the best championships in the world and we are going to work for this

Meaning of Messi's departure after Cristiano's: “As culé I did not want him to leave. A Barcelona without Messi. This is part of football. He is motivated and we hope he will compete. Not only Barcelona fans but all football fans because of the way he plays”

Play in another league: “Curiosity is always there. I have played for Barcelona, ​​which is my club and circumstances have always been favorable. The club has been in the front line. Being in the first team I have measured myself against other teams and English. I have never hidden that I would have liked to play for Milan with Maldini. Now Milan is going through a difficult period, but when I played for Milan it was impressive. “

Classic preferred: “I made my debut at the Camp Nou with Barça-Madrid with 2-2, but I stay with 2-6. We were with Guardiola and we started the year well and it was like a final sentence. The previous year was the worst when we lost 4- one

Golden season: “The World Cup final when Iker made Robben's save. We had seen him in Madrid. If we made a small mistake Iker would fix it. We played in a special generation. He was our captain but he accepted our advice. If the team was not united it was difficult to achieve the goal. “

Golden Ball: “No, I think that competing or being at the same time as Messi, Cristiano, Iker, Xavi is difficult to assess who is the best. You always looked at the number of goals. They were the two rivals of the moment. There was no truce between Messi and Cristiano I would have liked Xavi or Iniesta to win it because they have done an enormous job for the team. “

Classic without audience: “It is a difficult situation for the population. I do not get used to the idea of ​​a Classical without an audience, but I prefer to play it that way rather than not play it. First you have to resolve health that has a domino effect. Soccer is for the fans and you live with passion”.