Porto president Pinto Costa has claimed that quotes attributed to him criticising his club's Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas are false.

El Confidential claimed that Costa had branded the signing of Casillas "a complete fiasco" in a recent business meeting in Portugal. However, the 78-year-old has said that the businessman in question - Jose Manuel de Mello - has been dead since 2009.

"This news did make me laugh because it says that I was at a dinner at the home of 'my friend' Jose Manuel de Mello. But I have no idea who he is," Pinto told reporters.

"I am told that he existed but, unfortunately for his family, I think he died some years ago. I never dined or lunched with the deceased, so it is absurd."

Porto have since confirmed that they want to activate a year-long extension in the Spanish stopper's contract.