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| - Spanish sports minister Irene Lozano confirmed on Thursday that she had met with former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas but refused to say if they discussed the presidency of the national football federation. "I understand that he is causing a stir because he is a great sports figure and I received him as such, just as I receive many personalities," Lozano told the press on Thursday. "We had a relaxed, pleasant conversation and there is not much more to add. I am discreet about the conversations I have and any clarifications will be made by him," added Lorenzo. Spanish media on Wednesday reported the meeting and said Casillas had told the national sports council (CSD) of his intention to run. Lorenzo is president of the CSD. The Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said that "it was Casillas who requested the meeting". Casillas, 38, played 167 times for Spain, winning two European Championships and one World Cup, and more than 700 games for Real Madrid, with whom he won the Champions League three times. He joined Porto in 2015. Last April he suffered a heart attack during training and has not played since. His name has been linked with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) presidency for some months. Current RFEF president Luis Rubiales is in perpetual conflict with Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish league. According to the rules, the elections should be held in the second half of the year after the Tokyo Olympics. However, Rubiales has asked the CSD to bring the date forward to the first half of the year before Euro 2020, which will run from 12 June to 12 July. gr/gh/pb/jc
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