Iker Casillas rushed to hospital after suspected heart attack
According to reports in Portugal, the former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper is being monitored at the CUF Porto Hospital. Porto confirmed to TVI24 that Casillas is well.
Iker Casillas was taken to CUF Porto Hospital after suffering a cardiac problem during Porto's training session this morning, Portuguese media reports. This was later confirmed to have been a mild heart attack. Porto confirmed the news to TVi24. In a statement, the club expained that this morning's session in Olival was temporarily stopped after Casillas had complained of chest pains.
Casillas under observation
The 37-year-old Spanish keeper was admitted to the hospital's coronary ward and underwent minor surgery - a heart catheterization, reported Maisfutebol, who added that Casillas is conscious, his condition is reported to be stable and he is and out of danger. However he will not play again this season and judging by previous, similar cases, it is highly likely that Casillas will be advised to quit the game altogether.
Casillas later sent a reassuring message to friends and family, telling them that he was fine, and he was able to receive visits.
Little over a month ago, Casillas renewed his contract with Porto to 2021. The keeper is now in his fourth season at Estadio do Dragão, after joining from Madrid in 2015. He has made 156 appearances for the club and played a key part in the team’s recent successes, winning the Portuguese Primeira Liga (2017-2018) and two Portuguese Super cups (2018 and 2019).
Get well soon messages pour in
Not long after the news broke, members of football's community including old colleagues took to social media to wish Casillas a speedy recovery. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and tennis star Rafa Nadal were among the first to post messages.
Real Madrid statement
Iker's old club Real Madrid issued the following statement shortly after 5pm local time:
Real Madrid C. F. would like to extend our full support to our well loved capitain Iker Casillas.
Throughout his professional career, Iker Casillas showed us how the most incredible challenges can be overcome as he helped enhance the glory of our club. He showed us that giving up doesn't not feature in our philosophy of life and demonstrated many times that being strong and rising to the toughest challenges is the path towards victory.
Real Madrid C. F. and madridismo wish our eternal captain a full and speedy recovery and we send him all the enouragement in the world.