Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea should get the starting job for Spain at the European Championship over Porto's Iker Casillas, former Spain goalkeeper and Valencia legend Santiago Canizares has said.
Casillas, 34, kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 friendly draw against Romania on Sunday as he won his 166th cap for La Roja and equalled the European record for international appearances.
Canizares said that not only should De Gea start when Spain defend their title at Euro 2016 in France, but that Casillas should not be the back-up keeper either.
"De Gea should have been named starter a long time ago," Canizares told El Larguero radio show. "He has been performing much better than Casillas. I would not pick him [Casillas] as a sub, but there is no doubt that De Gea should have the title role."
Casillas, who was answering questions from fans on Twitter, responded to Canizares' opinions, saying: "It doesn't matter! Canete is the best!"
@Chiquitog96 @ellarguero da igual! "Cañete" es top! ������������
- Iker Casillas (@CasillasWorld) March 28, 2016
Canizares, who spent a decade with Los Che and was part of the title-winning sides of 2001-02 and 2003-04, currently works as a pundit on TV and radio in Spain.
Amid the debate, Casillas on Monday tweeted that the day he is getting "getting closer and closer" to retiring from football.