Real Madrid president calls for unity after Mourinho flap

MADRID - Sniping comments between Jose Mourinho and members of the Real Madrid squad have caused president Florentino Perez to make a rare foray into the limelight to call for unity at the club during the season run-in.

The nine-time European champions host Malaga were in La Liga on Wednesday, in a rearranged fixture due to their involvement in the May 17 King’s Cup final against Atletico Madrid.

?Speculation over Mourinho’s future has gone into overdrive since Real were denied a place in the Champions League final by Borussia Dortmund last week, and the Portuguese has done little to quash it.

Instead, Mourinho stirred up simmering divisions at the club last Friday by having a dig at popular club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who he has dropped in favor of Diego Lopez recently.

“We should be united for the fans, and give our all. Our players will do that,” Perez told reporters on Monday. Reuters