Kiko Casilla attempts to block a shot by Lionel Messi. (Photo : Reuters)
Real Madrid is reportedly eyeing RCD Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to back up the Premier League club's Keylor Navas as goal guardian following the recent departure of veteran Iker Casillas to Primeira Liga's FC Porto.
NESN reported that team captain Casillas, who had been with the club for a quarter of a century since he was nine years old with Real's youth academy La Fábrica, agreed to a transfer to the Dragons on Wednesday.
It was a bittersweet separation for the two parties as Real will host a special farewell to their long-time son at the Bernabeu Stadium on Friday.
Casillas graduated from La Fábrica in 1998 and was sent to the club's C and B teams before debuting the first team in 1999. He was Los Blancos' starting goalkeeper for more than a decade until he was replaced in 2012 by Antonio Adan. The Spain international continued to be on the bench with the acquisition of Diego López in 2013 but has since regained his starting spot later that season.
Now that the Real icon is gone, the Vikings need someone to spell Costa Rica international Navas' spot in the box.
Meanwhile, Casilla is also a La Fábrica graduate and former Real B and C player before moving to Espanyol in 2007.
ESPN indicated that Rafael Benítez wants the 28-year-old shot-stopper back this year as part of his plan to reinforce the team's goalkeeper lineup.
The Bernabeu giants are also said to be targeting Manchester United keeper David De Gea, but with the impending signing of Casilla the deal with United may not materialize anymore.
