Real Madrid are preparing a major send-off for Iker Casillas this week, with the goalkeeper’s exit this summer now said to have been agreed upon.
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According to AS, the Liga BBVA giants have spent the past 72 hours negotiating with the Dragons over a deal for the Spain international – and talks have now reached a conclusion, which will see the goalkeeper say his goodbyes to the Santiago Bernabeu either tomorrow or Saturday this week.
The Spanish newspaper state that the 34-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract. Moreover, the Primeira Liga heavyweights, the report claims, will not have to pay Los Blancos a transfer fee – rather an agreement has been reached whereby Porto will pay between €3 and €3.5m per-annum for the remaining year of his €14.5m Real contract.
Casillas has won 18 trophies during his 25-year career in Madrid – including five La Liga titles and three Champions League triumphs – and it seems that supporters will be given the chance to pay great respect to a club legend before he departs for the Estadio do Dragao.
The Spaniard was previously linked with Arsenal at the beginning of June, as a second option if the Gunners failed to land Chelsea’s Petr Cech [via The Guardian].
However, given the north London outfit secured the Stamford Bridge icon, Wenger’s apparent interest inevitably cooled.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur were also said to be keeping an eye on Casillas’s situation in the Spanish capital, particularly with Hugo Lloris a target for Manchester United [via talkSPORT].
With Casillas heading towards the exit door, Real will surely intensify their efforts to end David De Gea’s protracted transfer saga and complete the deal to bring the Red Devils stopper to the Bernabeu [Daily Mail].