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In modern times, the figure of goalkeeper Iker Casillas had been put under the spotlight for alleged relationships with the press that no one could prove. His relationship with Jose Mourinho fell apart because the player had leaked information to the press about his starting XI several times, that's when they had a fallout and things started getting worst for Iker. Even after Mourinho left, Casillas reached a point where half the Real Madrid fans despised him completely.
But the rumors were just that until now, a former Real Madrid player revealed some very interesting information that confirms Iker Casillas' relationship with a certain part of the local press. According to Brazilian Cicinho, not just Iker but Michel Salgado and Raul also had a special kind of relationship with some journalists. This started an internal war between players inside the club and divided them to a point where they could not win a single trophy.
Cicinho told ESPN that: "When Roberto Carlos left, I was the main [right-back], Sergio Ramos was central and sometimes on the right, and then Michel Salgado was the third-choice full-back. Then [Iker] Casillas gave the second captaincy to Salgado so he could play. That's where these little groups started. Julio Baptista told me about it. Guti, Salgado, [Ivan] Helguera, Raul, Casillas... those were the leaders of the group. And those who entered the group were those who obeyed them.
"They were the ones who manipulated. They would eat the head of the press and the manager. For example, one day Ronaldo had a bad game, and the next day it came out on the front page that Raul was better than him. Raul would have had to be born three times to try to be like Ronaldo. When Salgado came into the dressing room, he greeted everyone, but when it came to greeting me, I would tie my boots."
Photo credit: Getty Images
