Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas left Real Madrid on Saturday after 16 seasons as an iconic figure at the Bernabeu to take on a new challenge at former European champions Porto.
Casillas, 34, became a hero for both Real and Spain during a glittering career, where he has won three Champions Leagues with Real and the World Cup and two European Championships with La Roja.
But in recent years he lost some of the sheen that earned him the nickname “Saint Iker” and last term was regularly whistled by disgruntled fans at the Bernabeu as the world’s richest club ended the campaign without major silverware.
Real’s announcement of their captain’s departure, which ended days of frenzied speculation in the Spanish media, came exactly five years since the Spain captain triumphantly hoisted aloft the nation’s first World Cup in South Africa after a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.
The expected arrival at Real of Manchester United’s David De Gea, the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid man who is being groomed to take over as Spain keeper, will also have contributed to Casillas’s decision to move on.
Regular playing time in Portugal for Porto, coached by Spanish ex-keeper Julen Lopetegui, should allow him to extend his international career at least until next year’s European Championship in France.
“Thank you Iker, for everything,” Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com). “Thank you for being a symbol of the best in our history. You are leaving but we will not forget that you belong in Real Madrid’s heart forever.”
Casillas made his debut for Real in September 1999, aged 18, and as well as three European crowns he has also won five La Liga titles, two King’s Cups and one Club World Cup.
He made 725 appearances for Real, second only to former striker Raul, and was named the world’s best keeper five times by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
“For Real Madrid today is a day, above all, of appreciation and recognition,” Real said.
“Today, the best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and in the history of Spanish football is leaving the team and beginning a new
stage in his career.”
Casillas will hold a farewell news conference on Sunday (1000 GMT) at the Bernabeu.
The arrival of Germany’s World Cup-winner Bastian Schweinsteiger is the latest piece in Manchester United’a jigsaw as they bid to bounce back as a domestic and continental force following two seasons of mediocrity.
Spoilt by more than 26 trophy-laden campaigns under the stewardship of Alex Ferguson, United fans have been brought down to earth with a shuddering bang following two barren seasons.
Former Everton manager David Moyes’ ill-fated eight months in charge at Old Trafford ended in the sack and, after a seventh-place finish, prompted the arrival of colourful Dutchman Louis van Gaal to try to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Van Gaal’s first season began with humiliating defeats against Leicester City and MK Dons, amid uncertainty over the club’s footballing identity, formation and playing personnel but ended with the promise of better things to come.
The Dutchman experimented with various tactical lineups in the absence of injury-prone but hugely influential 33-year-old deep-lying midfield anchor Michael Carrick.
Schweinsteiger is a player out of the same footballing mould and provides United with a new fulcrum around which they can build their next title-challenging side.
Billed as the “brain” of Germany’s midfield by coach Joachim Low, Schweinsteiger, 30, can dictate and dominate midfield with his boundless energy and a phenomenal ability to read the game.
Allied with a fearsome shot, pinpoint delivery and great versatility he has become one of the most revered and successful midfielders of his generation since his Bayern debut in 2002.
PERFECT FOUNDATION
The imminent arrival, subject to a medical and personal terms, of Schweinsteiger — the anchor of two of the most successful club and national sides of the last decade — represents the perfect foundation on which United can return to the upper echelons of Europe’s football hierarchy.
His arrival will reunite him and Van Gaal, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship during the Dutchman’s two seasons at Bayern.
Van Gaal has already brought in exciting 21-year-old winger Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of about 30 million euros (21.5 million pounds) and is expected to complete the signing of Italian defender Matteo Darmian from Torino.
Angel Di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata are all dazzling attacking players but their threat has often been nullified by the absnence of a central midfielder capable of reading and dictating a game. In Schweinsteiger United have exactly that.
While the Premier League side were desperate for a player of his ilk, Bayern have several possible replacements at their disposal to take over from one of the club’s favourite sons.
Spaniard Thiago Alcantara has long been considered an heir apparent to Schweinsteiger’s midfield crown and evergreen Xabi Alonso fitted in seamlessly following his arrival from Real Madrid a year ago.
The phenomenal versatility of defenders Philipp Lahm and David Alaba has also seen them assume the role of midfield anchor to dictate matches on the biggest stage, while Javi Martinez remains a cultured and underrated midfield operator.
Given Bayern’s stable of ready-made replacements it is unlikely they will overly miss Schweinsteiger, but at long last United have found a player capable of being the catalyst for their return to to Europe’s top table.
Reuters