Iker Casillas waves goodbye to Real Madrid on emotional farewell day at the Bernabeu

  • Departing Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has officially said goodbye in a leaving ceremony at the Bernabeu
  • The goalkeeper has agreed move to Portuguese outfit Porto
  • Casillas spent 16 seasons with Madrid, winning 18 trophies along the way
  • The 34-year-old wants to play in next summer's European Championship
  • READ: Tearful Casillas bids emotional farewell to Real Madrid 

Real Madrid's goalkeeping great Iker Casillas was given an official send-off by Los Blancos on Monday, ahead of his move to Portuguese side Porto.

Casillas was initially angry at the manner of his exit after 25 years at the club and on Sunday he sat alone in a tearful press conference in which he could barely read his prepared statement such was the emotion felt.

However, Casillas seemed much more convivial on a sunny Monday morning as he was paraded onto the Bernabeu pitch alongside the numerous trophies he won during his 16-year first-team spell at Real.

Iker Casillas poses with all the trophies he won with Real Madrid during his 16 years in the first-team

Iker Casillas poses with all the trophies he won with Real Madrid during his 16 years in the first-team

Casillas crouched down in front of the cups during the ceremony which demonstrated his astonishing career

Casillas crouched down in front of the cups during the ceremony which demonstrated his astonishing career

Thousands of adoring fans turned up to thank 'The Saint' on Monday after he spent 25 years at Madrid

Thousands of adoring fans turned up to thank 'The Saint' on Monday after he spent 25 years at Madrid

IKER CASILLAS' 18 REAL TROPHIES

La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12

Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14

Spanish Super Cup: 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012

Champions League: 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2013–14

UEFA Super Cup: 2002, 2014

FIFA Club World Cup: 2014

Intercontinental Cup: 2002 

Several hundred Madrid fans chanted for president Florentino Perez to resign at the official send-off ceremony.

Real held the presentation following criticism over the surreal nature of Casillas's tearful news conference on Sunday, when he appeared to be alone in the stadium press room to read out a farewell statement.

The 34-year-old appeared on the VIP tribune on Monday with Perez and made a brief statement before going down to the pitch to greet the supporters who have affectionately dubbed him 'The Saint.'

Casillas waves to supporters after his Monday press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium

Casillas waves to supporters after his Monday press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium

The 34-year-old has joined Porto as he wants to play regularly next season so he can make his way into Spain's plans for the 2016 European Championship

The 34-year-old has joined Porto as he wants to play regularly next season so he can make his way into Spain's plans for the 2016 European Championship

Fans in the sweltering streets outside had called for Perez to quit before they were let into the arena and they repeated the chants and gave Casillas a rousing ovation as he posed with the 18 trophies he won with Real, including three European Cups.

Casillas spoke on Sunday after Spanish daily El Mundo published an interview with his parents, with whom he has a troubled relationship, in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by Perez.

Perez said at the presentation that he had invited Casillas, whom he said he had 'always defended' and described as 'irreplaceable', because of 'confused information that has been published that perhaps needs to be explained as it does not correspond with reality.'

Casillas somewhat awkwardly embraced Madrid president Florentino Perez during the joint press conference

Casillas somewhat awkwardly embraced Madrid president Florentino Perez during the joint press conference

A tearful Casillas struggled to read a statement during his first press conference on Sunday morning

A tearful Casillas struggled to read a statement during his first press conference on Sunday morning

'Iker is leaving us because that was his wish,' Perez said, adding that the club were looking to organise a farewell friendly match for him, possibly against Porto.

'Nobody from Real Madrid asked him to leave the club. You have to look after your legends and Iker is one.'

A smiling Casillas, who twice shook Perez's hand, did not respond to his parents' claims.

Despite the anger of some fans, the situation is unlikely to have lasting repercussions for construction magnate Perez, who is in the second of two stints as president.

Barcelona great Xavi posed for a photo at the Nou Camp alongside all his trophies in a similar way to Casillas

Barcelona great Xavi posed for a photo at the Nou Camp alongside all his trophies in a similar way to Casillas

However, the contrast between Casillas's emotional appearance on Sunday and the send-off of his close friend and former Spain team mate Xavi Hernandez was given by Barcelona, was telling, and prompted criticism that Real had not treated their long-serving captain with sufficient respect.

Xavi, 35, joined Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of last season and fans, officials and team-mates paid homage to the midfielder at the Nou Camp, where he was surrounded by family and friends and a glittering array of trophies.

Iker, un orgullo haber trabajado contigo tantos años. Mucha suerte en tu nuevo equipo!

A photo posted by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) on

 

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