Alvaro Arbeloa denies Iker Casillas bust-up

Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has played down rumours of a rift between him and teammate Iker Casillas.

The defender recently spoke out in defence of under-fire former boss Jose Mourinho by claiming that "there does not need to be so much of a commotion if someone goes to the bench occasionally", which many feel refers to the Portuguese's decision to drop the goalkeeper.

However, after Raul Albiol had revealed that the duo's relationship had "become colder", Arbeloa insists that there are no problems between himself and Casillas.

"We wear the same crests on our chest - for Madrid and the national team," Arbeloa told ESPN.

"More importantly, my comments were not about Iker. Not even indirectly. There's no room for misinterpretation."

Spain face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.