Iker Casillas Set for Real Madrid Exit as Arsenal Offer Five-Year Deal
Veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas is reportedly on the verge of ending his long-standing association with Real Madrid, with a move to Arsenal believed to be close. According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Spain international has agreed terms with the Premier League side after weeks of deliberation over his future.
Casillas, 33, has spent 24 years at Real Madrid, rising through the youth ranks to become one of the club’s most iconic figures. However, the past two seasons have seen the former club captain relegated to the bench, and his position has come under further threat with the imminent arrival of Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, one of the standout performers at the 2014 World Cup.
His World Cup campaign with Spain, which ended in a disappointing group-stage exit, further dented his hopes of reclaiming the No.1 shirt at the Santiago Bernabéu. Despite his loyalty to Los Blancos and his public desire to fight for his place, Casillas now appears ready to seek a new chapter abroad.
Arsenal are reported to have offered Casillas a five-year contract, which would keep him at the Emirates Stadium until the age of 38. The deal is said to match his current Real Madrid salary, estimated at €9 million net per year, and would guarantee him a starting role under manager Arsène Wenger.
Should the move materialise, it would mark the end of an era for both club and player. Casillas has been a central figure in Madrid’s modern history, winning five La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and captaining Spain during their golden era of back-to-back Euro and World Cup triumphs between 2008 and 2012.
While his age and recent form may raise questions, Arsenal’s interest signals a bold move for experience and leadership between the posts—qualities the Gunners have occasionally lacked in recent seasons.
With Real Madrid set to usher in a new era with Navas and possibly other additions, Casillas’ time in the Spanish capital appears to be drawing to a close. Whether Arsenal will meet the financial demands of the proposed deal remains to be seen.
