Iker Casillas clarifies ‘I am gay’ tweet as Real Madrid icon apologises to fans | Football | Sport
Iker Casillas has clarified a post on social media that claimed he was gay and issued an apology after insisting his profile had been ‘hacked’. The Real Madrid icon put out a message that was then ‘liked’ over 200,000 times in just an hour. However, it’s since been deleted – amid suggestions from Spain that he was joking over the whole thing.
A post on Casillas’ Twitter profile published on Sunday afternoon read: “I hope you respect me: I am gay.”
It was then ‘liked’ by over 200,000 people at the time of writing, with many sending the former Real Madrid star messages of support.
Yet Casillas has now clarified the situation by insisting he was hacked and issuing an apology to the LGBT community.
He said on social media: “Hacked account. Luckily everything in order. Apologies to all my followers. And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.”
Last year, the 41-year-old split with his wife Sara Carbonero.
And, since then, Casillas has been linked with a number of different women – ranging from Alejandra Onieva to Shakira – with reports in Spain claiming he’s frustrated by the speculation.
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“Our priority is, through affection and compromise, to share the wellbeing and education of our children and protect them so they grow in a stable and healthy environment.
“With these words we ask you please to respect our privacy in this moment of change.
“These will be the only public words we issue for the time being and in the future.
“Many thanks for your understanding.”
In August 2020, Casillas was forced to retire from football after suffering a heart attack the previous year.
He announced his decision to quit the sport by saying: “The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination that it takes you.
“Because that with work and effort comes alone and I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination.”
And Real Madrid then lauded him as the best goalkeeper in their history, penning a message that wrote: “Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation, admiration and affection for one of the greatest legends of our club and world soccer.
“The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football came to our house when he was nine years old.
“Today, one of the most important footballers in our 118-year history, a player whom we love and admire, a goalkeeper who has enlarged the legend of Real Madrid with his work and with exemplary behaviour both inside and outside, says goodbye as a professional player.
“Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever. Real Madrid wants to convey to him and his family the affection of our club, which is the club of his life.”
