The imminent signing of Peter Cech by Arsenal is set to close another door for Iker Casillas. A move to the English capital with Spurs and Arsenal being possibilities, was high on the Real Madrid captain’s list of priorities. A Spurs official mentioned to AS that they weren’t looking at Casillas and added that, “our plan is to hang on to Hugo Lloris this season”. Tottenham’s involvement in the Europa League rather than the Champions League was another obstacle for any potential move to North London. Casillas feels that it’s important that his destination is a high profile club as he aims to be Spanish goalkeeper at next year’s Euro 2016 tournament. This is also the motive behind ruling out a switch to the USA where moves to the MLS (New York City FC, where David Villa plays) and the NASL (New York Cosmos, Raúl’s team) have been put on the back burner for at least another season.
With the move to London looking unlikely, Paris and Rome present themselves as alternative destinations. A Parisian based newspaper that cover in depth day to day activity at PSG opened a debate about the need to bring in a new goalkeeper to the club. Current keeper, Italian, Sirigu, has been strongly criticized and it’s felt that Douchez isa pt as a back-up goalkeeper. Areola has returned to the Ligue 1 club after being on loan at Villarreal, and it’s felt that he is a goalkeeper with potential. However the directors of the club are looking at other areas of the squad to strengthen and the position of goalkeeper is currently not a t the top of their list of priorities.
AS Roma, are reportedly on the look-out for a new goalkeeper and are involved in the 2015-16 Champions League competition. Their inability to cover Casillas’ wages are the Italian club’s main handicap. If Casillas fails to secure a move, his alternative is to remain at the Spanish club and see out the two years remaining on his contract. For him to leave, he is clear in that the La Liga club pay him off (€14,5 million net for the two seasons remaining on his current contract). His subsequent lowering of his salary expectations would be a decision that the player would have to make once he has left Real Madrid.