Sergio Ramos has called for the Bernabeu boo-boys to lay off goalkeeper Iker Casillas, saying he cannot understand why any Real Madrid fan would want to jeer such an important player in the club’s history.

Casillas was whistled throughout his team’s last two games – Saturday’s derby defeat against Atletico and Tuesday’s Champions League thrashing of Basel – by a section of fans who want to see summer signing Keylor Navas elevated into the first team.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has already expressed his dissatisfaction with the debate over Casillas’ role in the team, and now Ramos given his support.

“Fans are the ones who judge us and we have to respect that,” said the centre back.

“But as a Madrid fan and a teammate of Iker’s, I would be incapable of whistling him due to his career, his identity and everything he stands for.

“I will not get into a debate. That would be stupid. Iker can live with it and he knows that he can’t please everybody, but he is not a robot and the whistles affect him.”

Ramos also asked fans to improve their levels of support for the team as a whole, noting: “People should understand that we like to play in a comfortable and supportive environment.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic will undergo surgery on his broken nose, sustained during their 3-2 defeat by Olympiakos.

Mandzukic will almost certainly miss Saturday’s La Liga encounter with Celta Vigo and could be out for two weeks.