Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has admitted that he made a mistake in making his falling-out with goalkeeper Iker Casillas public during Euro 2016 and says the pair have now made up.
Casillas had been Spain's first-choice goalkeeper at every tournament since Euro 2000, winning 167 caps and lifting the Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 trophies, before then being widely criticised as the team disastrously exited the 2014 World Cup at the group stage.
David De Gea, 25, was picked ahead of him for this summer's tournament in France, with Casillas remaining on the bench all the way through until the team were eliminated 2-0 in the second round by Italy.
Del Bosque subsequently revealed that Casillas, 35, had not behaved well with his long-time manager, nor the other members of Spain's coaching team, during the tournament and it had "left a bad taste," especially considering they had first met back in the 1990s at Real Madrid.
However the pair were back on good terms when pictured together in Spain on Monday, with Casillas tweeting a photo and saying "This morning, at the Ciudad del Futbol. 25 years together, plus those we still have to go. Best of luck boss!"
Esta mañana, en la Ciudad del Fútbol. 25 años juntos y los que nos quedan! Un abrazo Mister! Suerte! pic.twitter.com/swqp5HNOxS
- Iker Casillas (@CasillasWorld) July 4, 2016
Later that evening the veteran coach said that the whole issue had been like a row between father and son and maybe there had been no need to have spoken about it publicly.
"It is like when you have a son who does something wrong and you give out to him," Del Bosque said. "There are those two days without talking, and on the third day you are crazy to make up. It was an uncomfortable situation for him, he thought he should play or deserved an explanation. Maybe we were unfair and took too long to give that explanation.
"I did not see that this would be blown up so big. But it was easy to sort out as we have a very good relationship for many years. I should not have said it in public, it was a mistake. We are none of us perfect. Everyone talks about me like a saint, but I am like everyone else. With 23 players, it is impossible to keep them all happy."
Former La Roja playmaker Xavi Hernandez said the image of Del Bosque and Casillas embracing was "the right ending" considering all they had been through together.
"It is normal what happened, as everyone wants to play," Xavi said. "I was surprised that Vicente made it public, but I don't know what happened in the camp as I have been out for two years. But I have seen the photo and they have made up, as they should. The hug between the two is the right ending.
"Vicente should not be left with any feelings inside, they had to talk it out directly. They are both very intelligent, and have always wanted the best for Spanish football. In the unnecessary war between Barcelona and Madrid, they were two of the most important figures in fixing it up."
Del Bosque was also asked about his decision to stick with De Gea, even after the Manchester United goalkeeper was accused of involvement in a sex scandal pre-tournament. De Gea denies any wrongdoing.
"It did concern us, it was not a minor issue," he said. "We took the decision for him to play as we could not judge him. If they did not call him to give evidence in five years, who were we to make the decision. If they had taken him away from us... he showed strength uncommon for someone his age."