Football
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Iker Casillas hoping Porto draw Real Madrid in Champions League

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he would love to face his former side Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Casillas, 34, left Madrid for Porto in the summer, bringing an end to his 25-year association with the Spanish club.

The Spain captain made 725 official appearances for Los Blancos in that time, winning five Primera Division titles, three Champions League trophies and two Copa del Rey crowns.

However, after three difficult seasons, which included a well-publicised fall-out with ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, Casillas felt it was time to leave a club he is hopeful of coming up against in Europe this season.

"I needed to draw a line under my time at a team like Real Madrid and to look for a new challenge. Obviously it's not the same but I'm really happy here [at Porto], truthfully," Casillas is quoted as saying by AS.

"The objective [with Porto] is to get to the Champions League quarterfinals again. From there anything else will be a welcome bonus. I'd love Real Madrid to be drawn against Porto. It would be emotional for me if that happened, although I'd have mixed feelings."

Casillas, whose Porto side currently sit top of the Portuguese Liga, feels he made the correct decision to move to the club.

"I've been welcomed here amazingly, every day that passes I'm more convinced that I made the right choice," he said. "[Cristian] Tello, [Ivan] Marcano and Alberto [Bueno] have helped me a lot, as I came here from Madrid. I'm grateful that there are people here that I can relate to."

Casillas, who penned a two-year deal with Porto, added: "I want to stay here for the length of time I signed for. The day after that we'll see what the best choice is. I'm 34 not 24, and I feel like I'm that age.

"Mentally I feel good and if the physical fitness stays with me and I don't have any injuries a keeper can play for longer than an outfield players. I think I can carry on for a couple more years."

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