Cazorla: Arsenal Want Casillas And Keeper Has Asked About Life In England

As we approach the business end of the season clubs are starting to make plans for the summer transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news on Arsenal’s interest in Iker Casillas.

Santi Cazorla has claimed in an interview with Sport 360 that Arsenal are interested in signing Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas this summer and the player has been asking him about life in England.

Casillas has been widely regarded as one of the best goalkeeper in the world over the last decade but his stock at the Bernabeu has fallen over the past 12 months after losing his first team place under Jose Mourinho last season.

Things were expected to change when Carlo Ancelotti took over in the summer but the 32-year-old has continued to play second-fiddle to Diego Lopez and hasn’t managed to start a single league game this campaign.

He does keep goal in Madrid’s Champions League matches and domestic cup competitions, but it’s clear that Lopez is Ancelotti’s first choice which could force Casillas to end his 24-year stay with Los Blancos at the end of the season.

Arsenal were linked with the Spaniard last summer when Arsene Wenger was tipped to bring in a more experienced stopper to compete with Wojciech Szczesny, but the Gunners boss opted to stand by the young Pole and brought in third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano instead.

However, it seems the north Londoners may have retained their interest with playmaker Santi Cazorla claiming that Arsenal are keen on signing Casillas and he’s told his international team-mate to follow him to England.

Cazorla also confirmed that the keeper has asked him about life in England but insists the player must make the final decision over his future:

“I’ve told him [Casillas] I would like him to join Arsenal, but so far he has just been curious about my experience in England,”

“His situation is very complicated, but he has to make a decision.”

“Lots of clubs want him, including Arsenal, but I think that it would be very difficult to leave Real Madrid because of what the club represents.”

“He knows what he has [at Madrid] and what he could find at another club.” Cazorla exclusively told Sport360.

Obviously if he does decide he wants to leave the Bernabeu there will likely be a long list of clubs interested, but it’s good to know that Cazorla is doing his best to try and lure him to Arsenal.

For the most part, Wojciech Szczensy has been excellent this season and is definitely still improving, and his performances have rewarded Arsene Wenger faith in him. But with Lukasz Fabianski and Emiliano Viviano set to leave in the summer, we’re desperately short of options in the goalkeeper department and I’m not sure we should turn down the chance to sign Casillas if the opportunity arose.

Despite losing his first team place at Madrid, Casillas is still regarded as Spain’s No.1 – ahead of club rival Lopez – and is expected to start at this summers World Cup finals in Brazil. He’s no doubt still one of the best around and for now, he’d be an upgrade on Szczesny.

The main problem would be what it would be to Szczesny if we did bring Casillas in. The Polish international is unlikely to be too pleased if he loses his first team place, so it would be down to the management to figure out how to keep them both happy.

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