Casillas: Relationship with Mourinho like a marriage that ended badly

Iker Casillas has described his relationship with Jose Mourinho at the end of their time together at Real Madrid as “a marriage that ended badly”.

Mourinho has been reappointed as Los Blancos’ head coach this summer, having previously taken charge of the club for three seasons between 2010 and 2013.

During that time, Madrid won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana once each, as they rivalled Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

Los Blancos’ league win under Mourinho marked the first time a LaLiga side had reached the 100-point mark in a single season, though Barca achieved the feat a season later.

Despite their shared success, Mourinho’s relationship with Casillas suffered, largely due to an incident involving the Spanish national team.

 Mourinho: “Working for Real Madrid is an honor and a responsibility”. pic.twitter.com/KWjPOzSUC1

— Real Madrid C.F.  (@realmadriden) July 10, 2026

Casillas held talks with Barca players to resolve their rivalry for the benefit of Spain, which Mourinho did not like.

The former Madrid goalkeeper revealed how his relationship with Mourinho was at the end of their time in the Spanish capital, but he insists things have now changed.

“With Jose Mourinho, it was a marriage that ended badly,” Casillas told L’Equipe.

“Today, if we meet, we greet each other, and we can even sit at the table and talk without any problem.”