Iker Casillas has chosen to put aside his well-known differences with Jose Mourinho following the Portuguese manager’s return to Real Madrid for a second term. The iconic former Los Blancos goalkeeper issued a direct statement after the club confirmed Mourinho’s appointment ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Casillas offers composed response to Mourinho’s comeback

This is the first time Casillas has spoken publicly since Mourinho’s reappointment as head coach. Despite their turbulent past, the former Real Madrid captain took a calm and diplomatic tone when asked about Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking to DAZN, Casillas said: “Well. Good. The club has decided that Jose has to come to Real Madrid and best of luck. Let’s hope he does well, which will be good for Madrid.”

A history of tension at the Bernabeu

During Mourinho’s first tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, his relationship with Casillas was notably strained. One of the most talked-about decisions of that period was when Mourinho dropped Casillas in favour of Diego Lopez, a move that divided fans and signalled the beginning of the end for the goalkeeper’s long spell with the club.

Reflecting on that time, Casillas once remarked: “It was the most difficult period of my career because I was the captain. I had to talk to him constantly, deal with many issues, and, in the end, something that starts as a beautiful marriage, full of love and affection, turns into a complete divorce as time goes by.”

Concerns before the appointment

Prior to Mourinho’s official announcement, Casillas had voiced his doubts about the idea of the coach returning to the club, given their past conflicts. The former Spain international had also publicly supported Enrique Riquelme’s presidential campaign during Real Madrid’s recent elections, a sign that he was leaning towards a change in direction for the club.

However, with Florentino Perez re-elected and Mourinho successfully brought back to the Bernabeu, Casillas seems to have chosen to put his personal disputes behind him for the good of the club. His curt but professional message of good wishes indicates a willingness to move beyond the “divorce” he once described.

Mourinho’s official start date

Preparations for Real Madrid’s upcoming season are well underway as Mourinho finalises plans for pre-season. The Portuguese tactician ended his second spell at Benfica to return to the Spanish capital and is set to officially take over training duties at Valdebebas on July 13, marking the beginning of another chapter in his storied managerial career at the Santiago Bernabeu.