The goalkeeper was pushed out the Santiago Bernabeu door to Porto and his former coach does not think it was a fitting exit for a club legend.

Real Madrid have been criticised over the way they handled Iker Casillas’ exit by former head coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Having been reinstated as the Blancos’ No.1 last season following 18 months of being intermittently benched, the shot-stopper was unceremoniously pushed out of the club this summer.

Ahead of Friday’s pre-season International Champions Cup clash with Manchester City, Pellegrini passed his verdict on Madrid’s treatment of the 34-year-old club legend.

“I was saddened by the way that Casillas left,” he told reporters. “His exit wasn’t handled in the best way. He’s a top player.”

There have been comparisons between Casillas’ Madrid exit and fellow Madrid icon Raul who, five years ago, departed the Santiago Bernabeu for Schalke without much fanfare.

The Man City trainer refrained from directly answering when it was put to him that the circumstances were similar, instead lauding the talent of the striker whom he worked with during his single season at Madrid.

“I was lucky enough to manage Raul and, in my opinion, he was one of the most intelligent players I had the opportunity to coach,” Pellegrini added.

Pellegrini was sacked as head coach in 2010, 12 months after arriving, due to Champions League, Copa del Rey and La Liga failures.

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