Is it time for Iker Casillas to leave Real Madrid?

De Gea’s potential move hints at a changing of guard

How many times has a big-money move been purportedly set in stone only for it to fall to pieces a few days later? More than we care to remember, it has to be said.

Not that this one will, mind – but it’s always a possibility until the player in question can be seen holding his jersey aloft in front of a crowded press room, camera flash bolts popping by the second. Until that moment, everything is speculation and mystery. That said, with a new manager in town, anything could happen.

Watching the 24-year-old De Gea in action this season for Manchester United, it’s true that he excelled with a number of fantastic performances, despite being forced to due to an unfamiliar and discordant backline in front of him.

Against Liverpool in December 2014, he made a string of brilliant stops – his point blank denial of Mario Balotelli a particularly prominent example of just how many of his team-mates’ blushes were spared by him. Undoubtedly yet more brilliant than this was his superbly agile reflexes to keep out a fantastic late Bryan Oviedo effort from long-range when the Red Devils met Everton in the league.

Frequently, he saved shots, valuable points and kept out goals, but talk continues to swirl around about a potential move away from Old Trafford. According to Spanish publication AS, De Gea remains coy about his future, something that will only serve to unsettle Casillas the longer it remains unresolved.

Famously, Casillas is said to have quipped the following about De Gea’s incredible talent as far back in 2010: “One day he will retire us all.”

Still only 34, perhaps retirement is still a tad early for the long-serving Madridista, but if United’s net-minder is to move to Spain’s capital, it would likely fast-track a changing of the guard in between the Bernabeu goal-posts.

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Casillas is wanted elsewhere and can still win silverware

Between La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League appearances in the most recent campaign, the Los Blancos star didn’t concede in a total of 18 matches – quite an impressive number when you think about it. Nevertheless, he still came under fire when things went wrong. Indeed, that was sort of the story of their season – if things weren’t perfect, the fans, and Florentino Perez, just didn’t want to know.

Should they continue to chase perfection, they’re likely to be upset a lot more often than they’re content, because it’s a slippery slope that not many teams can climb consistently. There’s always obstacles along the way and if players continue to be lambasted the way Casillas and Gareth Bale were at times last season, morale will drop, tensions will rise and they’ll find it difficult to cope.

True, the captain the night Madrid lost against Schalke 04 was at fault for a number of the goals the German outfit netted, but he was let down by his defence at times, too, and was simply out-gunned by a terrific offensive performances from an opponent hungry to cause a massive upset in the Champions League.

Simply put, the treatment he received was harsh in light of what he has done for the club down through the years, and it certainly didn’t help his confidence.

Now, the proverbial vultures are already starting to circle.

Despite reportedly turning down Valencia’s offer to join their ranks citing his lack of desire to play for another Spanish team, as relayed by El Partido de las 12, a popular radio show in Spain, the signs are there that though Los Merengues might not still recognise his fantastic talent, other big teams do and they are more than willing to go after him.

Indeed, though Spanish team-mate Cesc Fabregas has warned Casillas of the dangers of moving abroad like he did, per The International Business Times, it’s possible the Madrid legend could do that, too.

Truth be told, England offers plenty of opportunities to win silverware – and after a season without any medals to show for his efforts, despite going so close on so many fronts, he might just be tempted.