*UPDATE: The tweet has since been deleted*
Spanish football legend Iker Casillas has become one of the highest profile footballers ever to come out as gay.
The Real Madrid legend enjoyed a 23-year professional career but retired in 2020 following a heart-attack during his time as a Porto player.
On Sunday afternoon, a short tweet from his official Twitter account said: “I hope you respect me: I’m gay.”
Casillas’ former Spanish team-mate Carles Puyol, with whom he won the World Cup in 2010, responded to Casillas’ tweet by saying “It’s time to tell our story, Iker.”
The pair have not yet released an official statement confirming the news.
https://twitter.com/Carles5puyol/status/1579084451740782593
Casillas was married and has two children with Sara Carbonero before the pair separated last year.
Casillas had announced that news in an emotional Instagram post.
“Both Sara and I feel enormously proud of the family we are and of having shared a love that has filled us with happiness during all our years together.
“Today our love as a couple takes different but not distant paths since we’ll continue together in the marvellous task of continuing to be devoted parents as we have been up until now.
“This is a well-considered decision which we have taken through mutual agreement.”
