Iker Casillas has become the fallen idol of Spain as he has been dropped to the level of backup for Real Madrid and now Spain.
While many acknowledge that the keeper could end up making a big move to a top club, it seems that Casillas is intent on remaining loyal to Madrid.
During the pre-game warm-ups for Friday's match against Belarus, the cameras caught Casillas talking to the other backup keeper Pepe Reina. The conversation was transcribed by the terrific lip-readers of the TV Channel Cuarto.
In the video, Reina starts the conversation by telling Casillas, "How many will you play? 10? 12? At the end of the day, it is a [expletive] season. Because you will only play 10 or 12 Cup games."
Casillas, clearly lost in a thought and in a defensive stance, replies, "Leave now? I don't know man... But at least I will play in the [Copa del Rey]."
Reina, with some disgust in his face, immediately responds, "Playing the [Copa del Rey] is an embarrassment."
Later on Reina adds a very ominous question: "Will you play only the first game? Or will you play the entire [Copa del Rey]?"
Casillas was once the talisman of Spanish soccer and helped the national team to two Euro Championships and a World Cup victory. On Friday, he was dropped in favor of Barcelona's Victor Valdes; Barcelona's keeper has been in terrific form for his club thus far.
It is unknown which keeper will start for Spain on Tuesday when it looks to clinch automatic World Cup qualification.
Barcelona has been listed as a rumored destination for Casillas; Arsenal and Manchester City are also contenders.
Watch the Casillas-Reina conversation below:
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