David Prutton has hailed the signing of goalkeeper Kiko Casilla for Leeds, branding it as “huge” due to the experience that he brings to Elland Road.
Casilla moved from Real Madrid on a free transfer this month – as confirmed on the club’s official website – and has won three Champions League trophies, a La Liga title and the European Super Cup.
The Sky Sports pundit says that there is a “big club mentality” about the shot-stopper, and he hopes that he can provide competition to current keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at the age of 32-years-old.
“That’s a huge signing, he has been at Madrid, Espanyol and then back at Madrid and you take into account the appearances he has made and the experience he has got but there’s also that ‘big club’ mentality about him,” he said in his Yorkshire Evening Post column.
“I say this with the greatest respect to Leeds United, but there are not many clubs on the planet that are Real Madrid. He knows exactly what that machine is like so he brings that experience and hopefully he can push Bailey Peacock-Farrell too.
“At 32, Casilla is a good age for a goalkeeper and he will be hungry to be in a side that he has looked at and seen doing so well. He will want to be a part of that success and prolonged success and the statement made by Leeds in signing a player such as that will not be lost on the rest of the division.”
OPINION
Leeds have certainly played quite the blinder by securing the signing of such an experienced goalkeeper. Like Prutton pointed out, signing him is a signal of intent made by the Whites, and it sends a message to the rest of the Championship that they mean serious business this term. He may be 32, but he can definitely usurp Peacock-Farrell as the number one keeper under Marcelo Bielsa. Yes, he has established himself as first choice, but Bielsa would be wise to replace him in the number one spot with a player who has numerous titles under his belt. It will be interesting to see how he gets on at Leeds, as their move to sign such a player shows that promotion to the Premier League is within their sights. Not many players at Leeds have won such prestigous titles throughout their careers, so they must make the most of him as he enters the final years of his career.