10 Apr 2013

Transfer Coup? LFC chase 'wonderful' €20m Madrid legend dissed by Ferguson

Liverpool are reportedly interested in making a summer move for out-of-favour Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

According to reports in Spain, Italy and the UK today, Liverpool and Arsenal are monitoring the Spaniard's situation, and after falling foul of Jose Mourinho at the Bernebeau, Casillas is open a Premier League move.

The 31-year old hasn't started a game for Madrid since January, and in that time, Diego Lopez has taken over as Mourinho's number one, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.

Last week, Italy and AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi threw his support behind Mourinho over the Casillas situation. Sacchi - - Madrid Director of Football from 2004-5 - told Marca:

"Iker Casillas doesn’t train properly, he never has done. Mourinho is right to leave him out. It's normal Diego López should play because he gives the impression of being an assured player".

Man United boss Alex Ferguson doesn't appear to be a very big fan of Casillas either, and after United's recent Champions League defeat to Madrid, he appeared to indirectly diss the Spaniard's goalkeeping ability:

"I think Lopez saved them. I would have preferred Casillas. Iker wouldn't have saved the shots that the boy Lopez did. Going out to Danny Welbeck in the first half, going down at Robin van Persie's feet, coming out and whacking Nemanja Vidic in the head. Casillas isn't that type of goalkeeper."

Former United stopper Edwin Van Der Sar has a different view to Ferguson, however, and in March, he told reporters:

"He [Casillas] has been wonderful for all this time for both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. I've never heard anything bad about him. He's a great captain for Real Madrid and for Spain."

How cruelly ironic would it be if Liverpool dumped Pepe Reina for €20m-rated Casillas? It would be a repeat of Reina's issues with the Spain squad, where Casillas has kept him warming the bench for years and years.

Casillas won't have good memories of Liverpool, that's for sure. In 2009, the Reds smashed five goals past him over two legs in the Champions League:



If Casillas is available, is he a better option than Pepe Reina, or the whole host of other 'keepers linked with replacing him (Vorm, Begovic, Al Habsi, Per Stegen etc) ?



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


23 comments:

  1. I have never really rated Casillas that highly. Ive always though he has been made to look better by the players in front of him.
    I would rather keep Reina, than spend probably £10 million plus on him.

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  2. everybody who believes in this is out of this world. Absolutely nonsense. Mourinho doesnt like him, but he will go. Their San iker will always stay at real. Hes a legend in Madrid, no club is in The position to get this Player as hes probably the best goal keeper alive...




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  3. If we really need/want a new keeper ter stegen, Kevin trapp and begovic are the names to go for ..

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  4. Marc Steggen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. waste of good money for a 31 year old keeper. not going to happen.

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  6. one of the daftest lfc transfer rumours of all time 20 million absolute no chance

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  7. If he not good fr Real then definitely there something not good.....hes 31, liverpool need to get a younger keeper to learn n be ready to over Reina not replace him YNWA

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  8. Its either Stegen or Trapp....Good n Young.......worth the money

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  9. I stated in one of my previous posts that Reina has not been the same player since benitez left. What makes it worse is that Liverpool under BR does not have a good defensive system in place at the moment and currently we have let in the same amount of goals as last season but still have 6 to play. I must admit going forward we are nearly their but defending we have gone backwards which will have an impact on any keepers confidence. If BR is given another year, i do expect the defensive system to be a lot better, I just hope BR improves the defensive system, which will hopefully improve confidence and we will see the old reina back again.

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  10. IF Casillas does go then he will go to a CL club .. This is a nonsense story.

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  11. Theycallmemrburt1:18 pm, April 10, 2013

    Sell Reina for 17m or whatever crazy price the papers are quoting and go under the rador bring in Júlio César from relegated QPR for 3-5m freeing us to spend the bulk of our cash replacing center backs who are not able to play a high line *cough* Skrtel and Agger *cough*. Under Rafa and Kenny where we defended deep A+S were fine. Defending higher up the pitch requires a little more nouse which neither have demonstrated this season.

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  12. Theycallmemrburt1:19 pm, April 10, 2013

    agreed.

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  13. If anything, knowing our record, the £20 million price tag would make it more likely. As we love spending too much on players.

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  14. not on a 31 year old goalkeeper not under fsg infact not under anyone

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  15. Suarez for Alonso+Casillas+cash? Sounds like a very good deal to me! Although I'm Sure Reina wouldn't go to RM as his allegiances are to Barca and Atletico, like Rooney will never come to us.

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  16. He wont go, Mourinho will.
    Besides, I've always thought he was overrated. Great shot stopper, but not an all-round 'keeper. I wouldn't fancy him in the Prem. He's only 5 '10.

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  17. i really cannot see us spending anywhere near 17 million on a keeper even if we sell pepe for 20

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  18. Why don't we sign you as the manager too while we are it.

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  19. Considering Ferguson has more goalkeeping issues then Rooney has transplanted hair, I hardly think he's in a position to comment.

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  20. Shot dooooooooowwwwwwnnnnnn in a blaze of glory!!

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  21. Rowan - Please do not belittle other posters' views just because you don't agree. Simon is entitled to his view, just like anyone else.

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  22. point taken, it was un necessary

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