fcb-46-tvd ---> messivale

We started to get along with the Selección before the World U17. I am a year older than him and I do not have memories of facing him before with our teams in the juvenile tournaments. Since then we haven’t separated. U17, U18, U20, he did not come to the Sydney Games because he got promoted to the senior team, and then all the experience that we got together with those two Euro Cups and the World Cup as defending champions.

I have to publicly admit that I am very fond of Iker and I sincerely believe we have a good friendship. There were a lot of years together, we went through many moments, bad and good, and that brought us together. Furthermore, Iker’s a very lovable guy. He was always a joker, joyful, sincere, competitive, really competitive… It comes to my attention that he is full of energy and very affectionate. He jokes with you but always with respect. Always has common sense.

Iker Casillas is sound, fair, an exceptional man. For example, when the problem occurred with Madrid-Barcelona and we saw that the thing could get worse, he called me and said “Pelopo -He almost always called me’ Pelopo’- máquina, we have to fix this. We suffered a lot to be where we are just to ruin it all because of what’s happening.

I belive that if Iker hadn’t meditated in the moment that he did,  I don’t really know how things would have ended. He is one of those persons who stick us together, who bring something to the group. His leadership is natural, not forced. Iker Casillas is soud and fair, an expceptional man.