"When Mou left, the target shifted to me"

The Milan keeper and former Real Madrid keeper Diego López did not bite his tongue when the time came to analyze his last phase with Los Blancos in an interview in "Fiebre Maldini" of Canal Plus.

Mourinho convinces him to return to Real Madrid: "Mourinho had a conversation with me in which he was very clear, and he gave me the strength I needed to confront what was approaching towards me. He said he wanted to buy me the season before, and that he had trust in me and that he had a challenge. He's a very unique person, just with his look and his words can he take you where he wants."

The pressure and the goalkeeper debate: "I knew what was going to happen. In the conversation with Mourinho it was mentioned, but later I had to be judged based on my matches. Mou made it very clear that he would play whomever played better and that he had nothing against Iker, and that I was not his precious child. If my form dropped, he'd drop me. I want to make it clear, because that's how it was. Maybe Mou was the shield for the critics, and when he left the target passed to me. I had an immense magnifying glass on me."

Relationship with Casillas: "There was never a lack of respect between the two of us. I would be lying if I said otherwise, but it's true that our relationship changed and I don't think I did anything for it to do so. Maybe it happened because it was meant to be and the competition sparked it. He definitely went through a hard time and I found myself strong. This debate created a dent within the fans. I don't think competition between two players has ever been talked about as much as this."

Rivalry between the sticks: "I'll be able to tell my grandchildren I had a fierce competition with Iker Casillas, a Real Madrid goalkeeping legend. I'll retire and be the same as always. I'll always be proud of what I've achieved."

His exit from Madrid, and transfer to Milan: "I'm 32 years old and I know how things happen. I saw that the two competitions in which I did not play in were won. Nobody tells me and suddenly Keylor is bought, another great keeper and more competition. It's not that I threw in the towel and felt inferior. I saw that there was change and I took the best sporting and economic decision for me and my family. Carlo tells me that Pippo Inzaghi called him. He have a friendly conversation. I talked to him and Vecchi and they responded well."

Credit to /u/HippoNigga for the translation