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Iker Casillas open to Real Madrid exit

By on October 17, 2013

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas revealed he may consider moving away from the Bernabeu if he doesn’t recieve more playing time the near future.

The Spaniard is regarded as one of the best goalkeeper in the world, but was dropped from the Real Madrid starting line-up last season after becoming a key figure in the Madrid player’s revolt against former manager Jose Mourinho. Casillas was sidelined with injury during the winter of 2012, and found himself replaced with January transfer window signing Diego Lopez after he recovered.

Mourinho left to join Chelsea over the summer, but the former Internazionale manager’s replacement Carlo Ancelotti has installed a policy to play Lopez in La Liga and Casillas in cup campaigns prompted the 32-year-old to threaten to leave Madrid. “Players go through moments when if you are not playing a part you think about making some sort of decision,” Casillas said at an event in the Spanish capital.

“Of course I want to stay here, winning more titles with Real Madrid. I have been here since I was a small boy but the day will come when maybe a decision will have to be made. I have decided I want to be part of this squad for a long time but if the situation doesn’t change in three months and you ask me the same question perhaps I will answer that I am planning to leave.”

Casillas also went on to talk about his position in Spain’s national team, saying: “Psychologically, you have to take the positive out of this. Ancelotti’s decision is the latest challenge, an abnormal situation and I want to win confidence. I will fight to get back into the starting 11. I want to play more. To play for your national team you have to be playing for your club

Although Casillas remains Spain’s all time most capped player La Roja’s captain has been also slightly fallen out of favor in the eyes of Spanish national coach Vincent del Bosque. The former Madrid manager started Barcelona’s in-form Victor Valdes in Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Friday, claiming Casillas dis-inclusion in the starting line-up was due to his club situation. This is far from Casillas losing his spot to Valdes, but if Casillas wants to confirm his place in Del Bosque’s 2014 World Cup starting line-up he will need to earn his place between the posts at the Bernabeu.

If Ancelotti remains firm in his policy that Lopez will play in La Liga, a move away from Madrid seems imminent for Casillas. Although many clubs would be willing to match Casillas’ salary putting a price on the goalkeeper would be tricky, considering his age and loyalty to Los Blancos. A move to another club inside Spain seems unlikely, leaving the Premier League and Bundesliga prime destinations for the two time European Championship winner. Manchester City and Arsenal both have both recently struggled with goalkeeper uncertainty, but it is hard to see Casillas following former teammate Mesut Ozil to the Gunners if they don’t qualify for Champions League football. Borussia Dortmund is another plausible place in which Casillas could move to on a long-term loan or permanent move, but financial issues will arise with the club’s relatively small wage budget.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.