Iker
Casillas is poised to move to Porto and unlock David de Gea's move to
Real Madrid from Manchester United, according to national television in
Spain.
TVE reported on Monday that the Portuguese side
coached by Spaniard Julen Lopetegui have bid for Casillas and the Spain
captain is giving the offer serious consideration.
Both
De Gea and Real Manager Rafa Benitez are keen to have Casillas at
another club before the start of next season so the controversy over who
plays in goal at the Santiago Bernabeu does not overshadow the season
as has happened in the last three campaigns.
Shifting Casillas
from No 1 spot at Madrid has not been easy. A veteran of 25 seasons in
which he has won five leagues, two Spanish Cups and three Champions
Leagues, Casillas has clung on despite the efforts of first Jose
Mourinho and later president Florentino Perez.
Benitez is not in
favour of using one goalkeeper in the league and one goalkeeper in the
Champions League as Carlo Ancelotti did two years ago, so if De Gea
arrived it would mean the Spanish legend would be reduced to just
playing Copa del Rey games.
Casillas is understood to see Porto
as a good fit especially as they are coached by Lopetegui, who appeared
as a keeper for Real Madrid and Spain.
Casillas' agent told
Portuguese newspaper Record on Monday: 'Iker is enthusiastic about
possibility of Porto. Real Madrid already has the proposal and know the
will of Iker.'
TVE, who reported the offer, also reported last
month that Real Madrid are willing to ensure Casillas earns the same at
his new club over the next two seasons as he would have earned by
staying at Madrid until the end of his contract in 2017.
This
would be done by paying the difference between the £3.9million salary he
earns at Madrid and what his new club are prepared to pay him.
Lopetugui
already has six Spaniards in his squad and both his assistant coaches
are Spanish. If Casillas completes the move he could even face Real
Madrid in next season's Champions League.
Credit: SportsMail
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