Casillas: I would like to retire at Real

Real Madrid's Iker Casillas has declared his intention to finish his playing career at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Los Blancos skipper was in the headlines for the wrong reasons recently, when Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho dropped him from the starting line-up for the team's La Liga fixture against Malaga, in favour of the relatively inexperienced Antonio Adan.

Although the Portuguese insisted that he did so for footballing reasons, tabloids in Spain have continued to hint at a deteriorating relationship between Mourinho and Casillas.

With Adan set to miss out on the team's upcoming visit to Osasuna due to suspension, Casillas will take his place between the posts once more. He told the club's official website that he would be fighting to regain his manager's faith and that he intended to remain a Real player for the rest of his career.

"I have to thank the people for the affection that they've always shown for me. Since I was 17 years old I have been under the microscope. I've done what I have had to do to make people feel proud when I wear the shirt. This club is wonderful and I would like to retire here," Casillas shared.

"What I have to do is train more and be as driven as possible to make my return. My toughest battle is with myself and regaining the coach's confidence."

Casillas also maintained that he was not disheartened by his recent omission from the first 11.

"The truth is that I love challenges and especially if they are with myself. I have to prove my worth to the profession. I have to enjoy it and grit my teeth more. I have to support my teammates and train more to prove to myself that I can come back and get that confidence back, if it was ever lost. That makes me feel stronger," he revealed.

"I'm not struggling. It's a different situation and I have to live with it. I have to prove I am worthy of starting and have that healthy competition with Antonio."

Although the Euro 2012 winner admitted that Mourinho did not reveal his reasons for starting Adan, he believed the Los Blancos manager was well within his rights to keep his intention to himself.

"We have not discussed anything. He did not speak with me when I played as a starter and does not have to do it when I'm not," Casillas said.

"I have a great friend and teammate in Antonio (Adan). If he didn't choose to tell me at the time, I am not going to ask for an explanation now. The club and the fight for success are more important than me."