Real Madrid to confirm Iker Casillas exit; farewell event planned for Friday

Real Madrid are set to confirm the exit of long-time servant and team captain, Iker Casillas. An official statement from the club is expected within the next 24 hours.

Los Blancos have reportedly finalized a deal which will see the Spain international join the Portuguese side FC Porto in the coming days.

The announcement from the La Liga club is imminent and it is understood that Real Madrid have already scheduled a farewell event for Casillas to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu on Friday.

Real Madrid wanted to resolve the goalkeeper’s future before the team flies out this Sunday to begin its pre-season tour of Australia and China.

Even though Casillas’ departure will leave the squad with only third-string keeper Fernando Pacheco and Castilla youngster Ruben Yanez in goal for the trip – since Keylor Navas is sidelined for three weeks will nursing an injury – the club was resigned to completing a deal which will see their team captain join Julen Lopetegui’s side.

With Casillas’ departure a formality, it can be expected that Real Madrid will ramp up its efforts to pry David de Gea away from Manchester United – although there have been reports that the club is also monitoring Espanyol’s Kiko Casilla, River Plate goalkeeper Augusto Batalla and Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno.

It is no secret that Madrid are eager to sign David de Gea and, by most accounts, the United player is keen to move to the Spanish capital.

However, the 24-year-old has been reluctant to push for a switch to Real Madrid so long as Casillas remained at the club. The veteran player and team captain holds a huge influence over the dressing room at the Bernabeu and the United goalkeeper was leery of disrupting that dynamic.

With Casillas set to join Porto, the final obstacle appears to be removed and De Gea’s transfer to Real Madrid could soon follow.