Casillas in hot water over Barca bond

Xavi's father claims the Barca star's friendship with Iker Casillas has landed the 'keeper in trouble with Real coach Jose Mourinho.

Despite the pair's unique club loyalties, Xavi and Casillas are understood to have struck up a close bond at Euro 2012, but the Barca star's father claims that La Liga-winning manager Mourinho has issues with their relationship. The pair have been on good terms throughout their career and their strong rapport appears to have survived the full-blooded encounters between the players' clubs, who are arch-rivals and have stood toe to toe in the race for league and cup honours in Spain for many years. And Xavi's father believes the strong relationship between the two players, and the strong team spirit forged between all members of the squad, was one of the key catalysts behind Spain's success at Euro 2012. "Iker got into a lot of trouble with Mourinho over his friendship with Xavi," said Xavi's father. "These problems became public last season and everybody knows about it, but Xavi and Iker never had any intention to end their friendship." Spain put a stuttering start at the Euros behind them to win a record-breaking third consecutive major tournament in the most emphatic of manners, putting four past Italy in the Final to maintain their position as the world's best team.