Real Madrid News
Iker Casillas’ tweet about coming out of the closet was a ‘joke’ – report
Iker Casillas stunned the world by taking to Twitter to officially announcing that he is gay to the public.
With Barcelona legend Carles Puyol showcasing his support to his former Spanish teammate, it seemed like a landmark moment for a player of the ex-Real Madrid skipper’s stature to come out.
However, some speculated that the 41-year old’s account could well be hacked, which is commonplace with celebrities. A fresh revelation has now clarified all the questions, including the truth behind the tweet.
As per the latest information provided by AS (h/t Madrid Xtra), Iker Casillas was not hacked, as he put the tweet out as a joke to stop the media from linking him to new women on a constant basis.
Since the tweet was first posted and went viral, it has now been deleted.
At first, it seemed as if Carles Puyol had perhaps admitted to being gay as well, as he had mentioned how the world finally knew about their sexual orientation.
Many praised Casillas for taking such a brave step and paving the way for other footballers to come out without the fear of being judged.
However, the revelation about the former Porto shot-stopper merely tweeting in jest has made a mockery of a serious issue.
Considering it is well-known that several footballers tend to keep their sexual orientation private, due to the toxicity within the sport towards such matters, Iker Casillas has not made things any easier for him side.
Despite wielding the power to incite positive change in the sport in unprecedented fashion, the veteran’s tweet has come across as out of touch, with plenty of fans and journalists speaking in opposition of the now-retired legend.
Only time will tell how Iker Casillas reacts to the understandable backlash.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
