AS.com

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano believes José Mourinho's decision to drop Iker Casillas for the game against Málaga was "a profound punishment".

"Mourinho has a peculiar relationship with his squad but this is really upping the stakes," the Argentine told radio station 'Cadena SER'.

"This was a show of power, he was wielding his authority on a club legend," he added.

"I imagine it was a technical decision, that he trusted a lot in Adán's ability, because it doesn't make sense to bring disciplinary decisions into the starting line-up. If you do that, you punish the team. It was a big decision and I imagine he had thought about it for a long time, even though I don't know the true reasons behind it."

Meanwhile, television channel 'Canal +' caught Florentino Pérez's reaction to the decision on camera. Presenter Monica Marchante showed the Madrid president the starting line-up on her phone, and Pérez looked shocked when he saw Casillas's name was missing.

He lifted his glasses to read the team sheet again and again and had a bemused look on his face, as if he had had no idea that Mourinho was going to drop the Madrid captain. He refused to comment on the matter.