Iker Casillas
San Iker is a living Madrid legend. He’s also the captain and the man who has lifted almost all trophies a player can get, at the club level and international level. Since Mourinho decided to bench him, he hasn’t been happy at the club. At a constant competition with Diego López and now with Keylor Navas, the #1 needs to really step it up.
The team may have won the two titles he played on last season, but it wasn’t because of him. La Décima was about to be lost because of him, but then came Sergio Ramos’ miracle header. Same with the Copa del Rey, as the post saved him from sending his team to extra time. On top of that, he wasn’t at his best in the Spanish Super Cup.
Nobody doubts Casillas’ talent, but he’s not in top form. He has graced the world with his saves throughout the years, but those miracles are slowly declining. With Keylor Navas hungry to settle himself as the starting keeper, Iker really needs to be San Iker again. Ancelotti seems to be inclined to give Iker the starting role, but there’s no guarantee he’ll change his mind later on.
At 33 years old, the captain should still have a few years left. However, at the Bernabéu, you need to excel or they will show you the way out. Whether it’s problems in the dressing room, family issues, physical form or any other thing, he needs to solve that now. If the club spent 10 million euros for a keeper, having a perfectly good one like López already, it’s because Navas is the future. Iker, it’s now or never.
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