Real Madrid have been busy playing down rumours of a falling out between Jose Mourinho and Sergio Ramos, rumours that were heightened when Ramos wore Mesut Ozil’s shirt under his own in the second half of their league game against Deportivo La Coruna.

Ozil had been taken off at half-time and the gesture was seen as an act of defiance against Mourinho’s decision to substitute the German, the assumption being Ramos would whip off his own shirt to reveal Ozil’s if he scored. He didn’t, so we’ll never know for sure.

Any truth in the rumour?

“My relationship with my wife is better than my relationship with Sergio Ramos,” said Mourinho, “but my relationship with him is better than it is with people who I do not work with and who I do not share my day with everyday.”

So, we were none the wiser.

What of talk that goalkeeper Iker Casillas was the man who leaked news of the rift to the press?

“According to some article I’m a snitch. Yes, of course, I am a snitch,” he replied. “And by the way, I was also the snitch in the Watergate case.”

And you thought Deep Throat was FBI deputy director Mark Felt?

Huh.