Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Remain Interested In Real Madrid Keeper Iker Casillas

Even though the 32-year-old keeper still has three years remaining on his contract with La Liga giants Real Madrid, Barclays Premier League affiliate Arsenal continues to express interest in Spanish star Iker Casillas, who has spent his entire career at the Bernabeu after the joining Los Blancos top squad in 1999. The veteran goalie has been linked to a departure from Spain for the past few months and even though he’s strictly being used by manager Carlo Ancelotti during Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League contests, Casillas said recently that he believes he has at least another eight years of high-level soccer in him, time he wouldn’t mind spending with the only club he’s ever played for.

“I can play up to 40,” Casillas said. “If a goalkeeper is careful they can get to that age now, if you take care. I wish I could play at Madrid until I’m 40, but there will be a moment where it isn’t possible. When I finish my contract it’ll raise the question of whether I stay at Madrid. I want to keep winning titles. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to win trophies and then go and enjoy it with the fans. Often I think about what I’ll do when I retire. I would like to remain connected to the world of football, to my club if they need my help.”

Due to the fact that Casillas remains behind teammate Diego Lopez in La Liga competition, current Arsenal star and Spanish national standout Santi Cazorla believes his international partner would be a great addition to an Arsenal club looking to claim their first English League championship since Thierry Henry led the Gunners to the 2003-2004 crown. While he understands that numerous teams have expressed interest in his services, Cazorla also noted that it would be tough for Casillas to leave Real Madrid no matter what kind of deal another club was willing to offer.

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

Casillas and Real Madrid moved past Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals Tuesday and they’ll have a chance to move further into the tournament when the semifinals begin on April 22.