Iker Casillas says he doesn't want Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid in a scathing social media post that has gone viral.
Real are on the hunt for a new manager following the ruthless dismissal of Xabi Alonso last January. Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Alonso, but Mourinho has been linked with a stunning return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
He is currently in charge of Benfica following his appointment last September, where he signed a two-year contract in his native Portugal.
A second spell at Real is thought to be on the cards, having managed the Spanish giants from 2010 to 2013.
Mourinho is the clear favourite to become the next Real boss and is the only candidate the club are in talks with over the role, with the BBC claiming he is in final negotiations to become the club's next head coach 13 years after his first stint.
Iker Casillas Sends Clear Message to Real Madrid Over Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho's potential appointment at Real hasn't gone down well with club legend Iker Casillas, who took to social media to share his "personal opinion" on the veteran Portuguese manager.
The 44-year-old, who worked under Mourinho during his spell at Real, claimed there are "better equipped" coaches than the 63-year-old.
Posting to his nine million followers on X, he wrote: "I have no problem with Mourinho. He seems like a great professional to me. I don’t want him at Real Madrid.
"I think other coaches would be better equipped to coach at the club of my life. Personal opinion. Nothing more."
Iker Casillas Wants Real Madrid to Give Xabi Alonso a Second Chance
Iker Casillas causes stir with tweet after Lionel Messi wins FIFA’s The Best award
Iker Casillas causes stir with tweet after Lionel Messi wins FIFA’s The Best award
Casillas has already put forward his preferred candidate, encouraging Perez to give Alonso a second chance.
Alonso lasted just seven months in charge at Real, having made his name in Germany's Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
The former Real player was relieved of his duties just a day after the club's defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January. He took charge of 34 games, winning 24 matches, with his reign lasting just 233 days into a three-year contract.
Casillas, however, called Alonso the "perfect" manager to take Real forward.
"I would take Alonso again," the three-time Champions League winner said during a Movistar+ event last week.
"He’s a manager who succeeded with Bayer Leverkusen, he’s young and he is ready for Real Madrid. He would be the perfect manager with continuity and confidence.
"But in football you never know," he added. "Zinedine Zidane came in for Rafael Benítez and things went right."
Alonso is currently out of work but has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, who are looking for a permanent manager following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. A return to Liverpool has also been mooted amid mounting pressure on Arne Slot.