Jose Mourinho claimed Iker Casillas was behind a campaign pushing for David de Gea to be dropped by Spain as he escalated his war of words with the former Real Madrid goalkeeper.

De Gea was criticised for Tin Jedvaj’s late winner in Spain’s 3-2 defeat by Croatia in Zagreb last Thursday and dropped for the 1-0 friendly win against Bosnia-Herzegovina three days later, with Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga preferred.

The Manchester United goalkeeper’s position for Spain has been under intense scrutiny since an error-strewn display at the World Cup finals in Russia.

But Mourinho has claimed the growing calls in the Spanish media for De Gea to be dropped are being orchestrated by Casillas as part of the 37-year-old Porto goalkeeper’s attempts to force his way back into the Spain team after a two-year absence.

The United manager did not name Casillas but left little room for doubt by saying he was referring to a player trying to force his way back into the international set-up who used to play for Real, won the La Liga title under him at the Bernabeu and was a powerful figure in the media.

Casillas admitted this month that he would be “delighted” to play for Spain again. His wife, Sara Carbonero, has been a prominent television sports journalist in Spain.