It’s going to be two seasons at the end of May since Iker Casillas left Real Madrid, and Keylor Navas took over as the number one at the Santiago Bernabeu. Two years later, and a handful of high-profile mistakes on his wake (I know, I am quite generous that way), the Real Madrid shot-stopper has finally lost the support of the Ultras Sur.
The white handkerchiefs are out, and each new day sees a new goalkeeper being linked to the Madrid giants. The writing is undoubtedly on the wall for the Costa Rican, and he is likely to move to another club in the summer or down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane. So here are five players who can replace him at Real Madrid.
#5 Gianluigi Donnarumma
It’s quite unreal that at the age of just 18 years and 9 days, he is a full Italian international and has 60 first team appearances for AC Milan’s first team. When Milan paid the €250,000 to get the then 14-year-old, eyebrows were raised, but the decision was vindicated when received the first call-up to the national team three days before he turned 16.
Despite being 18, he has the shoulders of a man, already 6 ft 5 inch (and counting) he covers the goal like a giant. Compared to his namesake, Gianluigi Buffon he is a brilliant shot stopper and is more than capable with his feet, and his decision making improving all the time.
“Mentally I’m older than my years. I realised that on my debut. I should have been anxious. But I wasn’t”, said the goalkeeper, ain’t that the perfect recipe for Real Madrid?
#4 Kiko Casilla
“I'll leave the goalkeeper debate to the press”, Kiko Casilla said emphatically after a very solid performance against Alaves when he was reinstated to the starting lineup by Zinedine Zidane.
He was assured, confident and kept a clean sheet. The Real Madrid academy graduate never has really got a run of games after his move back to Santiago Bernaneu, he probably deserves on given his form with Espanyol when he actually did play regularly.
Does he have the quality to be the long term first choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid, it is a question that can only be answered by him, and until now he has not had the opportunity to do so.
#3 Hugo Lloris
The first Premier League goalkeeper in the list (and not the last), and probably, on form, the best keeper in the League. The 30-year-old France and Tottenham captain has been one of the best keepers in the world for the best part of five years now.
Good with the ball at his feet, a brilliant shotstopper and lightning quick off the line, the Frenchman is really the full-package. Quite recently he said to French newspaper Le Figaro, “French newspaper Le Figaro”, which if not a ‘come and get me plea’ is the next best thing.
His experience would allow him to settle in at the Madrid giants easily.
#2 David de Gea
If not for a Fax machine, David de Gea might as well be a Real Madrid player by now. Quite embarrassingly, David has been the best player at Old Trafford for the past three seasons, repeatedly bailing the English giants out of positions which would make the best of you cringe.
The Spanish number 1 is in so many ways the heir to Iker Casillas, brilliant on the ball, difficult to beat one on one, probably the best shot stopper in the world, and effortlessly handsome. It is not difficult to see why Madrid fans love the man.
Please, don’t boo him if he goes to the Bernabeu.
#1 Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is at the top of the list, for one and only one reason. He is rumoured to be more interested in leaving for Real Madrid, than they are interested in signing him. Mind you, this doesn’t say anything about his talent.
Courtois has established himself as one of the best keepers in the last three or four years with his performances for Atletico de Madrid and Chelsea, a very good shot stopper and good with aerial balls, and he has his heart at Madrid (pun intended).
