Former Real Madrid star Michel Salgado admits his old teammate Iker Casillas may consider leaving the Bernabeu and retiring from international duty if criticism of his performances continues.
The iconic goalkeeper has come under heavy fire after committing a series of errors in recent times, most recently last week when he made a hash of a free-kick against Slovakia as they inflicted Spain’s first qualifying defeat in eight years.
With David De Gea pushing to become Spain’s first choice regular while Keylor Navas does the same at Real Madrid, Casillas has received fierce criticism from previously adoring fans and media.
Speaking exclusively to Sport360°, Salgado admitted the ongoing controversy surrounding his ex-colleague could be starting to take its toll.
“Your private life, your family and the way you want to live your life are important,” said Salgado. “If he’s not comfortable in that way, it’s time for him to make decisions.
“But I’m not the one to say that. It’s a personal decision and he must put all the things together and have a look at it.”
Salgado, who played alongside Casillas for 10 years at the Bernabeu, winning two Champions League trophies together, dismissed suggestions that the goalkeeper has entered into a physical decline.
“He’s only 33 years old – for a keeper that’s not that old,” the former full-back pointed out. “It would have been different for a defender or a midfielder but in this case he’s a keeper. So he’s got time to recover.
“I don’t think it’s a physical thing, I think it’s a mental thing. Psychologically he needs to recover. I don’t know if he can do it in the team that he’s playing for (now), or if he must consider his future in another place.”
Salgado also firmly believes Casillas should be allowed to make his own decisions about his future rather than being pressured by fans, media or coaches.
“If he’s still comfortable in the national team, if he still has got the support of his coach and his team-mates, he doesn’t need to step down,” he argued.
“There’s one thing that’s important: he’s been a key factor for the national team and Real Madrid for so long. He’s been one of the greatest players, in the last 14 years, winning all the trophies and captaining both teams.
“So it would be really unfair if for only one season, or one moment when he’s struggling a bit, that he must make decisions just because of this. Everybody has a bad year. You have to get over it.
“I think he deserves the credit and the backing of everybody in Real Madrid and the national team for all the things he’s done for these two teams.”
Salgado also warned critical voices they could end up regretting their condemnation of the keeper if he does make a big career decision, adding: “If he leaves Real Madrid, everybody’s going to miss him.
“Even those who are criticising him now will miss him because he’s been unbelievable for us.”
