Iker Casillas wants David De Gea to join Real Madrid

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas responded favorably when asked if he would like Manchester United’s David De Gea to join him in the Spanish capital next season.

De Gea has been targeted to be Casillas replacement in Madrid for quite some time but has yet to make a decision on his future.

The 24-year-old has an offer on the table from United which will pay him 250,000-a-week to remain in England, an offer that can’t be matched by Real Madrid.

However, the Madrid-born goalkeeper is being tempted by the possibility of rejoining his family and girlfriend Edurne Garcia in his homeland.

In the past, the issue for De Gea was the presence of Casillas in the Real Madrid squad. The team captain is a major influence in the club’s dressing room, as well as on the Spanish national team where De Gea has served as his backup.

Despite conflicting reports, it is understood that De Gea is genuinely torn over the decision to leave United – the club and fans who have nurtured and supported him for the past four years – or return to Spain to play in front of his family at Real Madrid.

But speaking today, Casillas invited the United goalkeeper to join him in Madrid. The veteran player also said he would finish his contract with the club (his deal runs out in June 2017).

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“Of course I would,” Casillas responded when asked if he would like De Gea to join him in Spain.

The Real Madrid captain was then asked if he planned on remaining at the club next season. His response: “Yes, I’m going to stay. Do I have to tell you that again?”

Over the past few weeks, Casillas has admitted he would be willing to remain at Real Madrid even if he wasn’t a starter. Even though he would not be happy having to concede his starting role in the squad, the veteran player said he would share his knowledge with the club’s next generation goalkeepers.

While Casillas is accepting the challenge De Gea’s arrival would bring, the club would still have the issue of having three world class goalkeepers in their squad.

Aside from Casillas and De Gea, there is the presence of last season’s LFP Best Goalkeeper Keylor Navas in Real Madrid’s squad. The Costa Rica international was signed last summer and is under contract with the club until June 2020.

Earlier this week, the 28-year-old broke his season-long silence by declaring he didn’t sign for Real Madrid to be a backup goalkeeper. Navas went on to say that his goal is to earn a starting role at the club next season.

Navas will once again play backup to Casillas this weekend when Real Madrid take on Getafe in the final game of the season. While De Gea will be a game-time decision for United’s match against Hull City on Sunday, after the goalkeeper tweaked his hamstring against Arsenal last Sunday.