Jose Mourinho has reignited his long-standing feud with Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas, delivering fresh criticism in his recently released Netflix documentary.
‘This Is War’: Jose Mourinho Revives Bitter Casillas Feud in New Netflix Film
The Portuguese manager, known as ‘The Special One,’ launches a revealing attack on the former club captain in the ‘trophy-packed, insider-fuelled’ documentary that chronicles his rise through football’s elite ranks.
Mourinho claims Casillas made three unreasonable demands during their early meetings at the Bernabéu.
The goalkeeper allegedly requested additional rest days for international players, asked to move training sessions earlier to avoid Madrid traffic, and suggested the team skip pre-match hotel stays.
“I didn’t take long to realise that the players were being spoilt,” Mourinho states in the documentary.
The feud intensified when Casillas contacted Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández in an attempt to ease tensions between the bitter Spanish rivals.
This diplomatic gesture infuriated Mourinho, who viewed the rivalry as warfare.
“I told them: ‘This is Barcelona v Real Madrid. When you’re with the national team, you can kiss each other, but not now. This is war’,” Mourinho says in the film.
The manager dropped Casillas for backup Antonio Adán in December 2012 before signing Diego López as his permanent replacement the following month. The pair’s relationship never recovered.
Former teammate Sami Khedira, who now works on Mourinho’s coaching staff, provides damning testimony about the atmosphere at the time.
“Iker was a Real Madrid legend, loved by the fans… Mou benched him and wouldn’t speak to him; he spoke ill of him in the media,” Khedira reveals.
“The dressing room became a living hell.”
Khedira claims the toxic environment damaged Mourinho’s relationships with Cristiano Ronaldo and the Spanish contingent, who were crucial to squad morale.
Mourinho’s first Real Madrid stint lasted three seasons, delivering a Copa del Rey and La Liga title before his dismissal in 2013.
In a surprising twist, the 63-year-old returns to the Bernabéu this summer, 13 years after his departure, hoping for a more harmonious second spell.
