BARCELONA legend Victor Valdes has begged Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas to retire from football in an emotional latter following his sudden heart attack.
Messages of support poured in from around the world from the likes of Gareth Bale to Rafael Nadal after the Porto goalkeeper was rushed to hospital on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old is now in a stable condition after falling ill at training but reports in Spain believe Casillas will be forced to retire from football following the health scare.
His agent said that retirement is "not something we're worrying about", but Valdes revealed in an emotional letter that he hopes his former rival does hang up his boots.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, the ex-Middlesbrough star reminisced on the experiences shared between the two, from rivals at club level to teammates for Spain.
He wrote: "Dear Iker, dear friend. You are and always will be one of those who was born with a glove on either hand.
It is your legacy that defines you, and this is already history
"The idol that has these innate qualities that the rest of us have to reach for. An idol that the other less capable focus on, dreaming that one day they can lift, like you, the trophy that recognises you as the best, our world champion with the number one on his back.
"You are, and forever will be the motivational force that those between the posts dream to be, someone able to [fly] higher and for longer than all of us together at once.
"My friend, it is inevitable to get emotional writing these lines remembering what I lived, admiring with a certain nostalgia those great battles with you in front of me that made me value everything much more.
"Your heart, that continues beating for the sake of those who dream of reaching what you once were, as a friend and as a rival in times gone by, I encourage you to be that white lion once again but this time on the sideline.
"It is your legacy that defines you, and this is already history. Always in my thoughts, from keeper to keeper. The double. V.V."
Victor Valdes' full letter to Iker Casillas
"Dear Iker, dear friend.
"In the world of soccer, some choose to be a goalkeeper while others have to learn with all of their defects and virtues.
"You are and always will be one of those who was born with a glove on either hand. The idol that has these innate qualities that the rest of us have to reach for. An idol that the other less capable focus on, dreaming that one day they can lift, like you, the trophy that recognises you as the best, our world champion with the number one on his back.
"You are, and forever will be the motivational force that those between the posts dream to be, someone able to [fly] higher and for longer than all of us together at once. Turning the unthinkable into reality. Executing every action close to our reach, with this magnificent save. Saves that only you can do on chosen ground for the chosen few or those touched with the 'magic wand.'
"My friend, it is inevitable to get emotional writing these lines remembering what I lived, admiring with a certain nostalgia those great battles with you in front of me that made me value everything much more, and without you knowing it and for what you gave me in each training session. A whole country acclaimed you.
"As goalkeepers, we accept without fear and with the values through which we identify ourselves, the danger that life decides to bring close to our areas and on this occasion it's more than one simple save. Your heart, that continues beating for the sake of those who dream of reaching what you once were, as a friend and as a rival in times gone by, I encourage you to be that white lion once again but this time on the sideline.
"It is your legacy that defines you, and this is already history.
"Always in my thoughts, from keeper to keeper.
"The double.
"V.V."
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Casillas still has a contract with the Portuguese giants until June 2020 but the heart attack could see the curtain full on an illustrious career.
The Spaniard won five La Liga titles with Real Madrid as well as the Copa del Rey twice, the Club World Cup and the Champions League three times.
His 725 appearances for Los Blancos are the second most in club history, behind only Raul (741), while he captained Spain to the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010 while winning 167 caps.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxCf_FZFK_M/
Víctor ha querido dedicar unas palabras a su amigo @ikercasillas : Querido Iker, Querido amigo. En este mundo del fútbol, unos eligen ser portero, otros sin embargo deben aprender a serlo con sus defectos y sus virtudes.Tú, eres y serás siempre de aquellos que nacen con un guante en cada palma de su mano, ese ídolo en el que residen las cualidades innatas que el resto deben alcanzar, esos ídolos en los que otros menos capacitados se fijan soñando que algún día puedan alzar, como tú, el trofeo que te reconoce como el mejor, nuestro campeón del mundo con el 1 a la espalda.Eres, y por siempre serás la fuerza y la motivación de aquello que todo portero bajo palos sueña ser, alguien capaz de volar más alto y más largo que todos juntos a la vez, transformando lo impensable en posible, ejecutando a la perfección aquello por lo que suspiramos en cada acción cercana a nuestras redes, esa magnífica parada. Paradas que solo tú dominabas, en terrenos exclusivos para los elegidos , o a los que la “varita mágica” tocaba.Amigo mío, es inevitable emocionarme al escribir estas líneas recordando lo vivido, admirando con cierta nostalgia aquellos grandes enfrentamientos en los que por supuesto tenerte delante me hacía valorar todo mucho más, y sin tú saberlo, por lo mucho que en cada entrenamiento juntos me aportabas. Todo un país por sus calles te aclamaba.Querido Iker, querido amigo, como porteros que somos aceptamos sin temor y con el valor que nos identifica, ese peligro que la vida decide traer cerca de nuestra área, y en esta ocasión es más que una simple parada. Tu corazón, ese que todavía sigue latiendo por el bien de aquellos que hoy sueñan con alcanzar lo que un día fuiste, te reclama, y yo como amigo y rival de épocas pasadas, te animo a que seas de nuevo ese león blanco pero esta vez, detrás de la línea de banda.Es tu legado el que te define, y ese ya es histórico.Siempre en mis pensamientos, de portero a portero.La Doble.V.V.
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