Spanish State Television RTVE reported on Monday’s 3pm bulletin that the Madrid captain is “99% certain” to join Julen Lopetegui’s Porto side. Diario AS can confirm that a formal offer by the Portuguese club does indeed exist and that the player is open to the idea of playing in the Super League. However, Porto want Real Madrid to meet 100 percent of the player’s salary demands which the Spanish club have refused. Madrid received the offer from a middleman and not directly from the player’s agent, Carlo Cutropia.
On 10 July, RTVE claimed that Casillas would be leaving Real Madrid this summer, while the club set the wheels in motion to bring in Manchester United’s David de Gea. The operation to land the United keeper however has hit a stalemate with the Premier League club insisting that they will not allow de Gea to leave unless Madrid let Sergio Ramos move in the opposite direction. Today, RTVE announced the end of Casillas’ time at Real Madrid, adding that the offer which Porto have made is “notably infereior” to the captain’s present earnings (13 million euros). Porto were hoping that Madrid would top up Casillas’ salary during the two years which remain on his contract, which, it appears, they are not prepared to do.
Madrid hope that when Casillas does depart, it is in line with the player’s glittering career at the Bernabéu and have guaranteed that if he receives an offer inferior to what he currently earns, they will pay the difference – but only part of his salary and not 100 per cent which Porto have requested.