According to reports from Manchester Evening News, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea will turn down mooted suitors Real Madrid this summer if current No.1 Iker Casillas remains at the Bernabeu.
Having made 716 appearances for Los Blancos, winning three Champions League titles, and claimed a record-breaking 161 caps for Spain, lifting the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012, Casillas is viewed so favorably in his home country that he’s often referred to as ‘St Iker’.
And such status has caused serious problems for Real Madrid’s other goalkeepers in recent years; despite often showing superior form to the 33 year-old, Diego Lopez found himself sold to AC Milan last summer after just 18 months in the first team, whilst Costa Rica star Keylor Navas has gone on to record only two La Liga starts since his Bernabeu arrival following the 2014 World Cup.
Clearly fearing Casillas’ reputation could have an impact on his game-time, reports today claim De Gea will reject the European champions if they plan to keep the Spain veteran on. Man United fans will be hoping that leads to a new Old Trafford contract instead – with the shot-stopper’s current deal set to expire in 2016.